Govt for speedy completion of irrigation projects: Harish

FULFILLING DREAMS

• 30 crore paid to farmers as compensation under Gouravelli reservoir
• Tenders to be called for `330 crore worth works for Thotapalli project

Husnabad (Karimnagar): Irrigation minister, T Harish Rao said that state government was committed to complete all the pending irrigation projects on a war footing with appropriate funding and speedy execution. Addressing a public meeting after inspecting Gouravelli reservoir works at Husnabad on Thursday, the Minister reiterated that the core objective of achieving separate Telangana was to provide water and funds to the local people.

The state government was committed to fulfill the long standing dream of the local people by completing all pending irrigation projects, he said. Promising to transform Husnabad dry lands areas into a green belt, the Minister said Rs 30 crore was released to pay compensation to the farmers who lost their lands under Gouravelli project. Rs 750 crore was allocated in the current year budget and another Rs 750 crore would be allocated in the next year budget if necessary, he said. A total of 5580 acres of land were acquired for the reservoir and the compensation to 3484 acres land was already paid.

The remaining 2096 acres would be provided according to the new land acquisition policy. Compensation to 263 houses, which were displaced under the project, were already paid and payment for remaining 512 houses would be done by June ending, the Minister assured and added that all facilities would be provided in rehabilitation colonies. Harish Rao informed that new tenders with an amount of Rs 330 crore would be invited for Thotapalli project by placing the old contractors on black list. Earlier, the project was sanctioned Rs 160 crore.