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AP government sincere on time-bound completion of Polavaram: Devineni
Minister for Irrigation, Command Area Development & Water Resources Management Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said the State government is sincerely taking measures to complete Polavaram Project by 2018.
** Govt committed to completing Pattiseema project within six months
** Expresses happiness that heavy rains last year helped farmers cultivate 10 lakh acres in some districts
** Allows unlimited check dams for enhancing water levels in rural areas, asks officials to strengthen tank bunds
** MLC Chandramohan Reddy requests Irrigation Minister to ensure MRP for paddy since 25 lakh tonnes will be harvested or allow sale to other States
Nellore: Minister for Irrigation, Command Area Development & Water Resources Management Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said the State government is sincerely taking measures to complete Polavaram Project by 2018. He received heavy equipment for the project at Nellore border and offered prayers to equipment that was imported from Germany and US through Chennai Port on Sunday morning.
“We could able to complete Pattiseema within five-and-a-half months linking Krishna and Godavari rivers. In fact, 1,600 tmc feet of water is being wasted without much focus on taking up project for arresting flow of water and it would be more helpful to the State if atleast 100 tmc feet of water can be diverted. We have imported material from Germany and US for the project which would be utilised for excavating land and constructing diaphragm wall,” he explained. Works with machinery would start from March and also continue after monsoon, he said.
Minister said heavy rains lashed Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa and Anantapur last November and groundwater level has significantly increased. Nellore farmers started rice cultivation in 10 lakh acres and the crop is ready to be harvested.
Umamaheswara Rao said they had spent Rs 17 cr for Kavali canal for its modernisation giving irrigation water to 1 lakh acres under the catchment area and claimed water of Pattiseema project saved crops worth Rs 2,400 cr in a condition to perish in Krishna and Guntur districts due to lack water.
Irrigation Minister said unlimited check dams will be allowed for enhancing water levels in rural areas and asked officials to focus on strengthening tank bunds and desilting them. He said they had spent Rs 450 cr under Neeru-Chettu programme and consequently groundwater levels in the State augmented considerably.
Member of Legislative Assembly B Ravi Chandra said Polavaram project and Pattiseema projects would provide irrigated water for water-starving districts. MLC V Narayana Reddy said government is trying to provide water for all cultivable lands in the district, while Venkatagiri MLA K Ramakrishna requested support for tanks in the constituency area.
MLC Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said destiny of 13 districts in the truncated State would change with Polavaram waters and requested the Irrigation Minister for minimum support price for paddy since 25 lakh tonnes of paddy is getting ready for harvesting. He asked the Minister to allow sale of the product in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for better prices. Former ministers Adala Prabhakar Reddy, P Ratnam, former legislators Anam Vivekananda Reddy, MSK Reddy, and others were present.
