Hyderabad|India|June'2009:
"Irrigation Projects continue to be the Government's top most priority.
Completion of all the contemplated and ongoing irrigation is our main goal
now. I do not want any laxity or lethargy anywhere by anyone. It is time
you all gear up and speed up the works. Each of the projects taken up has
to be completed. If there are any problems, come to me. But I want all the
project works to be doubled up", Chief Minister Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy
told the Secretaries, senior officials and engineers of the irrigation
department and finance department officials.
The Chief Minister held a comprehensive review of all the irrigation
projects of Andhra area on 16th June with minister and officials at
Secretariat. He told them that funds will not be a problem. "Don't worry
about funds. It will be made available as and when required. The
irrigation department officials now should go on with the work. You should
prioritise the land acquisition and implementation of the Relief and
Rehabilitation packages wherever it is not completed".
The Chief Minister said as all the clearances of Polavaram project is
ready and all parameters for declaring it as a National Project has been
completed, he would take it up with the Ministry of Water Resources so
that the project could be recommended to be declared as a National Project
by the Union Cabinet.
While reiterating the importance of irrigation projects, the Chief
Minister recalled the distressing years of continuous drought prior to
2004 and the agony undergone by the farmers when the agricultural
production hit an all time low and farmers committed suicides in
thousands. He said Andhra Pradesh is today in the forefront in the
agricultural sector and irrigation will be the live-wire for the farming
sector.
The Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction that only Rs. 5.5 crores for
Vamsadhrara and Rs. 18 crores for Nagavali and 252 crores could be spend
for strenghening Godavari Bunds as part of flood-control measures so far.
The Chief Minister asked the irrigation officials to see that during the
coming rainy season Vijayawada City is not flooded and the used water from
the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station is diverted in a proper way. Complete
the Budameru diversion works and see that water in case of heavy rains do
not enter Vijayawada city. He said a dedicated pipeline for discharge of
the used water from the VTPS is the permanent solution.
The Chief Minister also asked the irrigation department to see that works
are speeded up to see that water does not enter the Visakhaptnam
International Airport in the coming rainy season. A meeting of the
Visakhapatnam Municipal Corproation authorities, Airport Authority and
Irrigation Department is convened at the Minister's level on 20th of this
month and responsibilites are fixed after discussions.
The Chief Minister reviewed each project of the Andhra region in detail
and asked the officials about the problems they are facing and constraints
if any. He had discussed Vamsadhara Project Phase II, Stage I,
Mahendratanaya Project, Thotapally, Tarakarama Thirthasamudram,
Jhanjhavati, Pushkaram LI scheme, Musaramalli, Bhupathipalem, Polarvaram,
Pulichintala, Chinatalapudi LI scheme, Uttarandhra Sujala sravanthi,
Madduvalasa, Flood banks along Navavali river, flood banks along
Vamsadhara river, Krishna river flood banks, Modernisation of Godavari
delta, modernisation of Krishna delta, Krishna Western Delta under
modernisation irrigation circle-Guntur etc. He has also discussed the
pending R&R works and some left over land acquisition works.
The Chief Minister was informed that water was released under Jalayagnam
from 19 projects---Vamasadhara Project Stage, II Phase I &II , Jhanjavati,
Thotapalli, Pushkaram Lift Irrigation, Tadipudi Lift Irrigation,
Gundlakamma Project, Somasila Project, Telugu Ganga Project, Guru
Raghavendra Lift Irrigation Scheme, SRBC, Pulivendula Branch Canal,
Mylavaram Reservoir, AMRP (SLBC), SRSP-II, Mathadivagu Project, JCR-DLIS,
Gollavagu, Ralivagu and Kinnerasani Canals.
Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Principal
Secretary, Irrigation S.K. Joshi, Secretaries, Irrigation, R R Mishra and
Adityanath Das, Principal Secretary, Finance, IYR Krishna Rao, Engineers
and other officials of the irrigation department attended the meeting.
Reachout's News Bureau
June' 2009
