Speed up Siddapuram LI works, MLA to officials

Atmakur (Kurnool): After a gap of 17 days, Srisailam legislator Budda Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday visited the Siddapuram Lift-Irrigation (LI) project. The MLA directed contractor and officials to complete the project works as early as possible so that it can be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The project seeks to irrigate an estimated 30,000 acres and lift two tmcft of water from the Velugodu project to fill Siddapuram tank. The project is being executed at a cost of Rs 200 crore. The MLA, who visited the Siddapuram tank, appreciated officials for executing 100 cubic metres of work and directed them to execute the construction of two pump houses as early as possible.

During the next kharif, 30,000 acres will get irrigation facility from the Siddapuram LI Scheme, he said clarifying that the Chief Minister would dedicate the project to nation after March. He assured the farmers to get 3 tmcft of water released to the Velugodu project from Srisailam project after discussing it with the Chief Minister. The opposition parties are making a mountain out of a mole hill and creating fuss putting the blame on government charging it with suspension of release of water to the Velugodu. The land acquisition for canals is completed, he added. The Telugu-Ganga Project executive engineer Pulla Rao and Deputy executive engineer Vijayanand accompanied the MLA.

M Sathya Peter