Speed up acquisition for inland waterways, Collector tells officials

Eluru: The Eluru city will have a new look with the revival of the old Kakinada -Buckingham Canal for inland waterways project. If the project is completed, the goods transport will take place through the boats in Krishna Canal in Eluru.

West Godavari District Collector K Bhaskar disclosed this at a review meeting with Irrigation and Revenue officials held at Collectorate here on Saturday.

The Collector directed the officials to take the land acquisition programme for the modernisation of Eluru -Krishna Canal. He said the Centre had decided to take up the Kakinada -Buckingham Canal under waterways project and accordingly in Andhra Pradesh the Government has decided to modernise the canal system from Kakinada to Tada in Nellore district. As part of this, Eluru Krishna Canal and Godavari Canal system would be extended for about 70 km. For this, the officials have to speed up the land acquisition and submit the comprehensive report within one month on the acquisition requirement. The project should be completed within one year in the district.

The Collector said the beautification of Eluru Canal bunds would also be taken up as part of this project. He directed officials to take up the special platforms for cargo ships loading and unloading. As the Canal system was key to the farm lands and a sensitive issue, the water flow to the farmlands would not affect the project, he said. The officials should take steps to leave bund on Krishna and Godavari Canals’ expansion. He said the expansion works should be taken up before the completion of Khariff and Rabi seasons i.e., two-and-a-half months of canal closure time.

The Collector directed inland waterway project Executive Engineer M Venkateswara Rao to prepare an action plan to take the expansion of canals within two-and-a-half months. He said from Settipeta Godavari canal to Eluru, the 70 km stretch canal would have a width of 40 meters and depth of 7 meters. The water should flow continuously in the canal and in view of this the officials have to take up construction with utmost care, he directed.

The Collector said that the cargo ships would have a capacity of 1,000 tonnes. He said besides the cargo ships, the Government has decided to utilise the waterways for public transport through boats and launches.

Joint Collector Pulipati Koteswara Rao, Irrigation SE Venkataramana, Irrigation (Settipeta) Executive Engineer Srinivas and others participated in the meeting.