Gundlakamma Reservoir Project

Gundlakamma Reservoir Project (officially Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma Reservoir Project) is an irrigation project across the Gundlakamma river located in Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The dam, with 3.859 billion cubic feet of live storage capacity.^[1][2][3]

Gundlakamma Reservoir Project
Location of reservoir
Official name	Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma Reservoir
Country	India
Location	Mallavaram, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
Coordinates	15°39′42″N 79°59′12″E / 15.6617°N 79.9867°E / 15.6617; 79.9867
Purpose	Irrigation & Drinking water
Status	Active
Construction began	2006
Opening date	2008
Owner(s)	Government of Andhra Pradesh
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Dam
Impounds	Gundlakamma
Length	5,699 m (18,698 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma Reservoir
Total capacity	3.859 Tmcft
Website irrigationap.cgg.gov.in/wrd/static/approjects/Kandula.html

At the time of its inauguration in 2008, only 15,000 acres out of the total envisaged area of 80,000 could be irrigated due to issues in land acquisition for constructing canals.^[4][5] As of 2024^[update] land acquisition issues continue to dog the project preventing full utilisation, as some of the affected farmers did not agree to the compensation fixed by the government.

Design

 

Gundlakamma Reservoir Project overlay

It is planned to use 12.845 TMC of water through filling the reservoir 6 times during the monsoon season to provide irrigation facilities to 62,368 acres in Khariff and 80,060 acres in Rabi seasons in 6 mandals of Prasakam district. It is also planned to provide drinking water facility to 2.56 lakh population in 43 villages enroute canals and to Ongole town.

The reservoir consists of earthen dam with a length of 5.699 km, 227 meters long spillway with 15 vertical gates. The crest level of gates is +16.38 M for a maximum flood discharge of 2,72,000 cusecs. Right canal with take off at 3.785 Km of right bund for a length of 27.26 Km feeds an ayacut of 28,000 acres. Left canal with take off at 0.9 Km of left bund for a length of 21.975 km feeds an ayacut of 52,060 acres.^[1]

Land acquisition issues

As of 2024^[update] land acquisition issues continue to dog the project preventing full utilisation, as some of the affected farmers did not agree to the compensation fixed by the government.^[6]

Maintenance

Two crest gates of the reservoir developed leaks in 2023,leading to loss of water and also damage to ayacut crops, as water was released suddenly to manage the crisis. ^[7]

References

1. "Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma Reservoir Project". Department of Irrigation, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
2. "Gundlakamma Reservoir". Retrieved 8 March 2024.
3. "The Hindu Business Line : Gundlakamma project gets green signal". Thehindubusinessline.in. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
4. . The Hindu. 26 March 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
5. . The Hindu. 29 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
6. "Writ Petition No: 14258 of 2020". High court of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
7. "Second crest gate of Gundlakamma reservoir partially damaged due to flash floods triggered by cyclone Michaung". The Hindu. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.