Amaravati flood-proof now

Guntur: In a step towards making Amaravati flood-proof, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated Rs 237-crore Kondaveeti Vagu Lift Pumping Project in Undavalli on Sunday.

The first phase of the project envisages handling of flood waters at a discharge rate of 5,250 cusecs. The water would be lifted and pumped into the Krishna river.

Kondaveeti Vagu, known as sorrow of the villages in its course, is known for flash floods, causing extensive damage. Since Amravati is close to the course of the Kondaveeti Vagu, the state government had constructed the project at Undavalli to flush the water out into the river when it is in spate.

The project would make Amaravati, being planned to be developed into a greenfield global city, flood proof. With this project, agriculture farms in Tullur, Tadikonda and Tadepalli mandals will also become flood proof.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Amaravati was becoming a reality because farmers had stood by the government by offering 33,0000 acres of their fertile land but the Opposition has been levelling allegations that Rs 1 lakh crore irregularities had occurred in the acquisition of lands under the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS). Referring to the need for Guntur Channel's extension which provides drinking water to Guntur city, Naidu said he will give necessary clearances for the channel.

Stating that the government has been conducting Jalasiriki Harati programme for the last three days, The Chief Minister reiterated that his aim was to make the state drought-free and provide irrigation facility to each and every acre of the land. He said the government will complete the construction of 12 irrigation projects by next March. He said he is according top priority to irrigation.

Naidu said he would lay the foundation stone soon for the barrage at Vaikuntapuram in Guntur district soon. The government will also take steps for the diversion of Godavari water to the Gollapalli reservoir from there to Nagarjuna Sagar.

The government will construct another barrage across the Krishna river at Chowdaram. In spite of deficit rainfall, the government could release water for irrigation all because of the precautions it had taken, the CM said.

Taking a serious exception to BJP president Amit Shah saying that he was trying to make an issue out NBWs issued against him, Naidu said he wanted to know why the NBWs were issued now, after a lapse of eight years unless there was some ulterior motive.

He questioned the BJP leader as to which party was in power in Maharashtra and at the Centre and added that they had hatched a conspiracy to create problems to him. He reminded that he along with TDP leaders went to Maharashtra and protested against the construction of the Babli Project to register their protest to protect the interests of AP farmers.

He said: "I am not indulging in any drama. I have protested against the construction of Babli Project. When Almatti project's height was increased, I had brought pressure on the then UF government to protect interests of the state. I have taken initiative to do justice for Andhra Pradesh.

Those who defaulted in repaying bank loans were allowed to escape to foreign countries. I need not fear anyone. I did not commit any mistake. My conscience is clear," he said.