Vamsadhara River

River Vamsadhara (also called Bansadhara in Odisha) is an important east flowing river between Rushikulya and Godavari, in Southern Odisha and North Eastern Andhra Pradesh states in India.

The river originates in the border of Thuamul Rampur in the Kalahandi district and Kalyansinghpur in Rayagada district of Odisha and runs for a distance of about 254 kilometers, where it joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The total catchement area of the river basin is about 10,830 square kilometers.

Tourist attractions of Mukhalingam and Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district are located on the banks of this river.

Mahendratanaya is a major tributary river of Vamsadhara originating in Gajapati district of Odisha and it joins Vamsadhara in Andhra Pradesh upstream of Gotta barrage. Regulapadu barrage in Andhra Pradesh is under construction to divert the river water for irrigation use.^[1]

Interstate aspects

Vamsadhara river basin occupies 8015 square kilometers in Orissa and the remaining 2815 km² flows in Andhra Pradesh. The river basin receives high annual average rainfall of magnitude 1400 mm. The portion lying in Rayagada district of Orissa is predominantly hilly and tribal populated area. Andhra Pradesh and Orissa roughly estimated that 115 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water is available for use in the river. They entered into agreements^[2] to use the available river water in 50:50 ratio. Andhra Pradesh has taken up Gotta barrage and Neredi barrage projects to put its share of water for use. However Orissa has not taken up new projects in the basin area to utilize its share of water. In fact it is diverting Vamsadhara river waters to adjacent Rushikulya river basin by constructing Harabhangi dam without taking prior consent from Andhra Pradesh.^[3] Also, Orissa has raised objections to Neredi barrage project on the grounds of land submergence in its territory.

Approximately 25% of the available water in this basin is being utilized during the monsoon season by constructing barrages across the river. Reservoirs up to 100 thousand million cubic feet water storage capacity are to be constructed for the non-monsoon period irrigation requirements, by which 100% water utilization can be achieved. Peculiar situation of this river is that most of the land to be irrigated is located in Andhra Pradesh while the possible storage reservoirs are located in Orissa. Recently, the Vamsadhara River water disputes tribunal was constituted under Interstate River Water Disputes Act^[4] to resolve river water sharing issues between the two states. Justice Mukundakam Sharma is the chairman of Vamsadhara Water Dispute Tribunal.^[5]

The Vamsadhara Project

Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao Project was constructed on Vamsadhara river.^[6]

Vamsadhara is the main river of North Eastern Andhra. The North Eastern Andhra region consists of three North Eastern Coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh state in India. Vamsadhara project is designed to meet the irrigation needs of Uttarandhara.^[7]

The Vamsadhara project has two canals viz., the left main canal (LMC), irrigating about 148,000 acres (600 km²), and the right main canal (RMC) covering an ayacut of 62,280 acres (252 km²). The left main canal was completed long back. The right main canal was delayed due to various reasons. Gotta Reservoir feeds the right main canal. About 166 villages in seven mandals viz., L.N. Peta, Hiramandalam, Burja, Amadalavalasa, Gara, Sarubujjili and Srikakulam will be benefited from the RMC.

Lower Vamsadhara Project

The Lower Vamsadhara project envisages construction of 58m high & 1700m long dam across the vamsadhara river near Minajhola village (near 19°31′00″N 83°44′30″E / 19.51667°N 83.74167°E / 19.51667; 83.74167 ) in Rayagada district creating hydraulic head of nearly 62 meters.^[8] This project would be a multipurpose project serving power generation, irrigation and flood control.

Lanjigarh alumina refinery

Alumina refinery owned by Vedanta Resources is located in the Lanjigarh town which is in the Vamsadhara river basin area. The rain water run off from the red mud dump area of the Alumina refinery would pollute the river water by increasing the water alkalinity.^[9]

See also

References

Eastern Ghats Rivers Champavathi River Godavari Gosthani River Gundlakamma River Kaveri Krishna Kundu River Mahanadi Nagavali River Palar Penner River Ponnaiyar Rushikulya Sabari River Sarada River Sileru River Sweata Nadi Vasishta Nadi Vellar Vamsadhara River Regions Deccan Plateau Kolar Plateau Hills Bilgiri (Biligirirangan) Chitteri Erramala Kalrayan Karanthamalai Kolli Lankamalla Mahendragiri Mettur Nallamalla Pachaimalai Palamalai Palkonda Shevaroy Sirumalai Vada Chennimalai Velikonda Waterfalls Agaya Gangai Kiliyur Mayil Uthu Mangalam Periyar Pudur Megan Talakona Falls Ubbalamadugu Falls States Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Odisha Tamil Nadu Telangana West Bengal Parks & Reserves Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary Chilika Bird Sanctuary Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary Kanger Ghati National Park Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Nalbana Bird Sanctuary Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary Simlipal National Park Sri Venkateswara National Park Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Coordinates: 18°21′N 84°08′E / 18.350°N 84.133°E / 18.350; 84.133