Farmers in Mulugu district, who cultivate land along the Godavari riverbanks in the Eturnagaram-Mangapet stretch, may finally see a solution to their long-standing problem. Every time the river floods, the rising waters erode their croplands, leading to heavy losses.
Not only do these farmers lose their standing crops, but they also have to work hard to remove the sand dunes left behind by the river. In 2007, the government proposed building a 15-kilometer embankment (karakatta) at a cost of Rs 46 crore, but the plan did not progress due to difficulties in acquiring land. Only 38 acres were obtained, while nearly 180 acres were needed.
In 2017, the Central Designs Organisation (CDO) raised concerns about the impact of floods on villages along the riverbank. In response, the irrigation department created a new proposal worth Rs 128.56 crore, which included acquiring 315 acres to implement permanent flood control measures. However, despite strong demands from locals, this plan also failed to take off.
Now, the Irrigation Department has come up with a new solution using Geotube technology. Geotubes are synthetic barriers made of special woven material designed to prevent floodwater erosion and soil loss.
Executive Engineer Jagadish from the Irrigation & CAD Department told The Hans India that a proposal has been sent to the CDO for installing a 100-meter Geotube wall near Ramannagudem, costing around Rs 70 lakh. If the test project is successful, they plan to expand the installation along the entire Eturnagaram-Mangapet stretch, where erosion is most severe.
Officials are hopeful that the CDO will approve the project by the end of the month. Geotubes, filled with sand slurry, will be placed on a structured stand along the riverbanks to help control erosion.
