Date:05/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/05/stories/2007060503610600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Prakasam Barrage "not an irrigation structure"

G. V. Ramana Rao

Discom's "no" to concession in power tariff for Irrigation Dept.

VIJAYAWADA: The Prakasam Barrage, which has an ayacut of 13.5 lakh acres, is not an irrigation structure, according to engineers of the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL).

In an odd bureaucratic wrangle between the Discom and the Irrigation Department, a divisional engineer of the APSPDCL served a notice on the Vijayawada Irrigation Circle last September, asking it to pay arrears of Rs. 82.30 lakh as power supplied to the barrage was not used for "irrigation purpose".

He contended that power was being used at the barrage only to "operate gates during flood season and not for irrigation purpose". As a result, the Discom could not extend any concession and the Irrigation Department would have to pay the tariff in full.

Consequently, the tariff was enhanced from the regular Rs. 30,000 to a flat rate of Rs 1.64 lakh a month and asked the Irrigation Department to clear the arrears in retrospect from March 2001.

A reply sent by Superintending Engineer (Irrigation) B. Suryanarayana to the Discom on December 30, detailing the history of the barrage and the role it played in irrigating a major ayacut all these years, has not met with any success in convincing the Discom officials.

SE's response

The SE of Guntur Division of the Discom responded on March 7 by saying that concession was given earlier under High Tension (HT) Category IV-A account pertaining to the Government-run lift irrigation schemes. However, the barrage was reclassified as HT II (non-industries) and was no longer entitled to any concession.

Expressing surprise at this argument, Irrigation engineers here point out that the barrage gates were operated throughout the year to maintain the required level for water to flow by gravity into the ayacut.