Build Barrage on Krishna River: Writ petition filed in Supreme Court seeking Government action

Kurnool: A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court of India urging the government to take decisive action in constructing a barrage across the Krishna River at Kurnool's proposed Iconic cable bridge site.

Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record D Siva Rami Reddy emphasizes the critical need for a barrage alongside the cable bridge to address drinking water and irrigation issues in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.

The Kundu Porata Samiti, led by Kamani Venugopal Reddy, actively supports the movement, urging comprehensive measures to manage water resources and highlighting the significance of a barrage in conjunction with the Iconic bridge.

The petition underscores that the visually iconic cable bridge may not sufficiently meet the fundamental needs of the arid Rayalaseema region, emphasizing the crucial role of a barrage in addressing both drinking water and irrigation requirements. The ongoing legal proceedings aim to stress the importance of a holistic approach in infrastructure development, ensuring alignment with the socio-economic and environmental needs of the served regions.

In October 2022, Union Minister for Roads Nitin Gadkari announced the project and later it was approved. The tenders for the proposed iconic cable bridge were floated and the estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,400 crore.

Once constructed it will be the first suspension bridge on Krishna river, however, since the announcement, there has been opposition to the same from farmers in Rayalaseema.

However, according to the Kundu Porata Samiti, the project in no way served the drinking and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, especially those in Nandyal and Kurnool districts. However, by constructing bridge -cum-barrage at the same place, will not only address the irrigation and drinking water needs of the two districts, but at the same time serve the purpose for which the suspension bridge has been proposed.