Vamsadhara, Nagavali will be linked soon, says Uma

• Says the government has allocated 16,500 crore for the construction of irrigation projects
• Calls upon engineering staff to play a key role in the proposed rivers’ linkage works for the development of the State

Visakhapatnam: All important rivers in the north coastal Andhra including Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers would be linked soon with the same inspiration of Krishna-Godavari rivers’ linkage since the State government is giving priority for irrigation projects, said Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao.

Holding a review meeting with the department engineers of north coastal Andhra, here on Wednesday, the Minister said that despite its huge deficit budget, the government has allocated Rs 16,500 crore for the construction of irrigation projects.

The most prestigious Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme taken up by linking Godavari and Krishna rivers would be an ideal project in the entire country which was completed in a record time of 130 days. By completing the work of laying of 24 pumps by March next, we would provide water to Prakasam and Rayalaseema districts along with the Krishna river ayacut, he added.

He said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has a strong opinion of providing water up to Sompeta and Itchchapuram by linking Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers with the spirit of Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. He informed that an expert committee headed by retired Chief Engineer S Satyanarayana has already been set up for giving a detailed report and design for the proposed linkage.

Similarly, Suvarnamukhi, Vegavathi and Champavathi rivers would also be linked with each other to get additional ayacut ensuring water supply even to the tail-end farmers. About the long pending Thotapalli project in Vizianagaram district, Devineni claimed it was completed in a short span of time soon after TDP came to power and the 122 km-long main canal was completed and water would be provided to the entire ayacut by April next.

The Polavaram project would be completed by 2018 and there would be no water scarcity for Vizag city and the left canal works are being taken up on war footing using latest technology. He called upon the engineering staff to play a key role in the proposed rivers’ linkage works for the development of the State and asked them to cooperate with the GVMC.

Irrigation Chief Engineer Sivaramprasad, Vamsadhara SE Appalanaidu, Bobbili SE S V Ramana Rao, retired CE S Satyanarayana and Executive Engineers and Divisional Engineers of north coastal Andhra districts were present.