The Hindu : Power tariff policy for lift schemes soon: CM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Power tariff policy for lift schemes soon: CM

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, JAN. 20. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Tuesday said that the State Government would shortly come out with a comprehensive power tariff policy with regard to the lift irrigation schemes in the State.

Speaking to newsmen at Palem village in Morthad mandal after inspecting the ongoing Sriramsagar Flood Flow canal works, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said the Government is examining the demands by ryots to fix a uniform rate for power bills pertaining to the lift irrigation schemes. While rejecting the Congress promise of free power to the lift irrigation schemes, the Chief Minister said that the Government would evolve a comprehensive power tariff policy, which would benefit the farmers. All the lift irrigation schemes, whether big or small, would be covered under the new package, he added.

The Chief Minister utilised the occasion to claim the TDP Government's commitment to develop irrigation sources. He said the TDP had done so much for the irrigation sector that no previous Government had dared to do. He said the Government with an intention to supplement the Godavari waters proposed to take up major lift irrigation schemes, particularly in Telangana.

The Government has released Rs. 300 crores to take up the Devadula LI scheme. A sum of Rs. 930 crores has been earmarked for the said scheme, which would irrigate about 1.20 lakh acres in Warangal district.

The project would be completed at a cost of Rs. 3,000 crores. He said the Sriramsagar project has been provided sufficient funds to take up various developmental works. He reminded the people that the Congress Government had failed to utilise the Rs. 730 crores sanctioned by the World Bank to complete the SRSP first stage works. The Congress Government could spend not more than Rs. 200 crores and the remaining funds lapsed.

The situation with regard to the TDP Government is different, the Chief Minister said, adding that the Government had spent about Rs. 1,000 crores for the AP-III stage for modernisation of the Sriramsagar project. He pointed out that the Government had spent Rs. 500 crores under the AIBP to develop irrigation sources in Warangal district and provide irrigation facilities to 4.50 lakh acres. He said the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme in Mahabubnagar was developed to irrigate about 30,000 acres and the Government spent about Rs. 500 crores to complete the Alimineti Madhava Reddy LI scheme in Nalgonda district. Referring to the irrigation sector in Nizamabad district, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu promised to complete the Guthpa and Alisagar lift irrigation projects within two years. He said that the Government had successfully completed the Kaulasnala project, Singeetam and Kalyani projects besides the Vempalli and Nawabcheruvu lift irrigation schemes by spending not less than Rs. 100 crores. More than 18 lift irrigation schemes were completed in Nizamabad district alone, he pointed out.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu refused to answer a question relating to politics. When queried about the impact of the Congress-TRS alliance, he said the people would see their performance during the coming election. Asked to react on the decision of the former MLA, Adala Prabhakar Reddy, to join the Congress, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu evaded a directly reply and left for the helipad stating that he was one hour behind schedule for the next programme. The Minister for School Education, Mandava Venkateswara Rao, Minister for Major Irrigation, Kadiam Srihari, and Minister for Technical Education, Nerella Anjaneyulu, were present.

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