Prakasam Barrage, Vijayawada

One of the most remarkable and very first barrages which was built by "Sir Arthur Cotton" is the Prakasam Barrage which is found right across the Krishna. This is an ancient and a very old barrage, which is around hundreds of years old. In the year 1950, it was again reconstructed since it was in a very bad condition. It’s condition worsened due to the construction of the much awaited Vijayawada Thermal Power Station in the year 1979. To assist in proper passage of water, it is necessary to have the water level to rise to around 17.42 meters, which is the bare minimum here. It water passes through a cooling canal, which then transports it to the thermal plant situated in Ibrahimpatnam.

This power-starved state has the privilege of having Vijayawada Thermal Power Station, which comes with a capacity of approximately of 1,260 MWs and is one of the chief sources of power. For more than 22 years is the barrage was not depleted. This road bridge and modern day regulator acquired its name ater Sri Tanguturi Prakasam who is Andhra Pradesh’s first Chief Minister and it stretches across the river Krishna. Also it is known to be South India’s oldest irrigation projects and the Krishna delta has been transformed into granary of Andhra Pradesh.

This ancient and remarkable barrage is around 1223.5 meter long and stretches right past river Krishna. One of the other achievements that come along with this barrage is that it serves the purpose of a road bridge and expands past a panoramic lake. This bridge opens into three canals and runs the city of Vijayawada providing the needs and necessities of the people.

This wonderful yet thought provoking idea of constructing a barrage across river Krishna is nothing new and hails from 1798 background. However, yes, in the course of time, it did undergo few changes by captain Buckle during 1839 and later Captain Lake and Best also revised it in the year 1841. On 5th January 1850 it was approved no sooner after the endorsement of Major Cotton, known as the renowned Board Directors of East India Company. The construction started in the year 1852 and finally after 3 years got the construction was complete, in 1855. A new regulator was later constructed by the name of Sri Tanguturi Prakasam. It’s construction was complete in the year 1957 and has been quite beneficial for irrigation purpose serving around 1.2 Million acres of land. No doubt, Prakhasam Barrage in Vijayawada is one of the most significant and crucial irrigation projects of the Southern Indian region and has been very much fruitful and helpful in serving its purpose.