🏞️ Environment & Infrastructure

🌊 Krishna River Flood Protection Wall – Safeguarding Lives and Land in Andhra Pradesh

In a significant step toward flood mitigation and community resilience, the Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet has approved the construction of a flood protection wall along the Krishna River.
This long-awaited measure aims to prevent recurring flood damage, especially in Vijayawada and nearby areas.

The project is a part of larger efforts to preserve riverbanks, combat soil erosion, and secure the livelihoods of thousands who live near the river.

🌐 Krishna River – Lifeline of the Deccan

• Length: ~1,400 km
• Origin: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra (near Jor village, Satara district)
• Flow: Eastward across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
• Status: Second-largest east-flowing river in Peninsular India
• Boundaries:
  • North: Balaghat Range
  • East/South: Eastern Ghats
  • West: Western Ghats

A vital waterway for agriculture, industry, and daily life in multiple states.

🌊 Key Tributaries of the Krishna River

🟦 Right Bank Tributaries:

• Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra

Highlights:

• Koyna: Site of the Koyna Dam (Maharashtra’s largest hydroelectric project)
• Ghataprabha: Gokak Falls, irrigation and hydro projects
• Malaprabha: Dams and nearby UNESCO heritage sites: Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami
• Tungabhadra: Significant for Raichur Doab, historically known as Pampa

🟩 Left Bank Tributaries:

• Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Halia, Musi, Paleru, Munneru

Highlights:

• Bhima: Flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
• Musi: Supports Hyderabad’s water supply via Osmansagar and Himayatsagar

🚨 Drought & Flood Zones

Drought-Prone:

• Rayalaseema (AP), Bellary, Raichur, Bijapur (Karnataka), Solapur, Osmanabad, Pune (Maharashtra)

Flood-Prone:

• Krishna Delta Region – Vulnerable due to silt build-up and coastal cyclones

🏗️ Major River Projects

• Tungabhadra Project: Multi-purpose (irrigation + hydroelectricity)
• Srisailam Project: Home to the Srisailam Sagar reservoir
• Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Shared by Nalgonda and Guntur districts
• Prakasam Barrage: A historic structure near Vijayawada, originally designed by Sir Arthur Cotton
• Bhima Project: Located in Solapur, Maharashtra

🚧 New Flood Protection Wall – Key Details

• Location: Downstream of Prakasam Barrage, Tadepalli village, Guntur district
• Stretch: From 0.9 km to 2.61 km
• Cost: ₹294.20 crore
• Beneficiaries:
  • Sundarayya Nagar
  • Mahanadu Colony

This project will strengthen flood resilience in low-lying urban zones.

⚡ Mini Hydel Plants – Green Energy Boost

• Approved developer: M/s May Encans (P) Ltd
• Sites: Near Sardar Gouthu Latchanna Thotapalli Barrage, on the Nagavali River
• Capacities:
  • 1 MW
  • 2.7 MW

These projects aim to enhance clean energy production while utilising existing water infrastructure.

🔮 Looking Ahead

The flood protection wall and mini hydel initiatives signal a commitment to:

• Proactive climate adaptation
• Disaster risk reduction
• Sustainable rural-urban infrastructure

🕯️ When rivers rise, so must our resolve — to protect, preserve, and plan.