Godavari, Krishna Rivers formally linked at Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village in Andhra Pradesh

To manage Godavari’s flood waters which goes waste into the sea every year, two Rivers namely Godavari and Krishna were formally linked on 16 September 2015 in Andhra Pradesh.

The two rivers were formally linked by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who released waters from Godavari at Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village near Vijayawada.

To mark the occasion Krishna-Godavari confluence was named as Krishna - Godavari Pavitra Sangamam meaning holy confluence in Telugu.

The two rivers were linked under the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme on Godavari River at Pattisam village in West Godavari district.

Under the scheme, waters from River Godavari will be lifted and diverted towards Krishna River in the neighbouring Krishna district.  From here, then the water that will come to Krishna River would be diverted to the parched Rayalaseema region.

Originally, the inter-linking of River Godavari and Krishna was envisaged under the multi-purpose Polavaram project which was given the national project status with the division of the Andhra Pradesh into two States, viz., Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

However, the project was put on hold by the Chandrababu Naidu government due to cost concerns.

How the inter-linking will benefit the state?
• The linking of the two major rivers in the State will facilitate in utilising about 80 TMC of the 3000 TMC of the Godavari’s flood waters which goes waste into the sea every year.
• The delta region of river Krishna faces acute shortage of water for irrigation from June to August.
• It was an historical near Ibrahimpatnam upstream of Prakasam Barrage will fulfill the long cherished dreams of the farmers of Krishna and Guntur districts.
• After interlinking of Godavari-Krishna, the state government has plans to divert the waters to the drought prone Rayalaseema region.
• The place of confluence of the two rivers near Ibrahimpatnam would be developed as a spiritual and tourism centre.