Khammam erupts in joy

​Khammam: Khammam is in a celebratory mood for two reasons. Firstly, for getting the coveted Padma Shri award to one of its son Vanajeevi Ramaiah, and secondly for completing the Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Scheme (BRLIS) in record time; one year.

People in Khammam district have been a disappointed lot ever since they lost seven mandals that have abundant natural resources, picturesque Papikondalu and Sileru hydel project to Andhra Pradesh as part of AP Reorganisation Act-2014.

The recent split of districts exercise further beleaguered Khammam as it lost a host of industries – Singareni, ITC’s Bhadrachalam Paperboards, Navabharat Ferro Alloys, Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS), NMDC, etc. to Bhadradri-Kothagudem district.

Against this backdrop, the BRLIS aimed at irrigating nearly 60,000 acres of parched land in Kusumanchi, Tirumalayapalem, Mudigonda, Nelakondapalli and Khammam rural mandals is all geared up to get underway on Tuesday (January 31) with the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao dedicating the project to the nation. Incidentally, January 31 also happens to be the birth anniversary of the saint composer Bhakta Ramadasu.

The project is designed to source 5.5 tmc ft of water from Palair balancing reservoir which is under Nagarjunasagar left canal.

For civil works and land acquisition, the government spent around Rs 130 crore and has used the pipes, motors and pumps already purchased for the purpose of Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar projects. The two motors imported from Brazil and pipes are worth Rs 163.75 crore.

“Completing BRLIS in just one year, the TRS government has proved the Opposition parties wrong,” Minister for Roads and Buildings Tummala Nageswara Rao said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the project at Erragadda Tanda under Kusumanchi mandal at 1.35 pm on Tuesday.

He will also inspect the intake well works of the Mission Bhageeratha at Palair. Later, he will address a public meeting in Tirumalayapalem.