A.P. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to kick-start work on replacement of 117 gates of Sir Arthur Cotton barrage on July 13
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will perform ‘bhumi puja’ for renovation works at Gate No. 1 of the Sir Arthur Cotton barrage across the Godavari
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will perform ‘bhumi puja’ for renovation works at Gate No. 1 of the Sir Arthur Cotton barrage across the Godavari, at Pitchuka Lanka in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on Monday. Naidu will kick-start the works costing ₹152.95 crore for replacement of 117 gates of the barrage as recommended by the Dam Safety Review Panel and the Central Water Commission. The 5.837-km-long barrage, spread across Dowleswaram and Vijjeswaram in East Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts, provides irrigation water for 10 lakh acres in the Godavari delta.
Designed by British irrigation engineer Sir Arthur Cotton, the anicut had been commissioned in 1852. The existing barrage was built at the anicut in 1969. A total of 58 gates had been replaced with ₹31.77 crore during the 2014-15 financial year. The State government had given the administration sanction for renovation of the barrage in 2025. “The Hyderabad-based firm, M/s BEKEM Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd, will execute the renovation project, which is expected to be completed by July 2028,” according to an official release issued by East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri.
The Chief Minister will also interact with the farmers of the Godavari delta after the ceremony at the barrage. Fishing rights Meanwhile, an inquiry is in the progress on the fishing rights of the local communities at the barrage following a
dispute over the issue after bifurcation of the combined East Godavari district. The Joint Collectors of East Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts have so far held two rounds of talks with the local communities to sort out the matter.
The BriefWire