The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Priority to farm sector: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Priority to farm sector: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

ANNANGI (PRAKASAM DT.), JULY 11. The Minister for Major Irrigation, P. Lakshmaiah, has said the Government is leaving no stone unturned to revive the farm sector which had taken a beating earlier as it was given a raw deal. In an oblique reference to the policies of the previous regime, he said no Government could afford to ignore such sectors. He was addressing a public meeting after performing `bhumi pooja' for the Mallavaram reservoir project to be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 184 crores across the river Gundlakamma here on Sunday.

As promised by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Government was committed to complete all 26 pending irrigation projects in next five years, the Minister said. Three projects, Velugonda, Ramatirtam and Mallavaram in Prakasam district also figured in the list of the said projects.

An additional 2.76 lakh acres could be brought under ayacut if these projects, apart from a major check-dam on the Gundlakamma costing about Rs. 1,246 crores, were completed, he said.

Seeking to dispel the misgivings of locals about the quantum of compensation and rehabilitation, the Minister said that he would ensure justice to them.

In a bid to pacify villagers when they became restive after having failed to extract clear promise from him, he maintained: "works cannot be achieved with emotions, but can be fulfilled only with proper thinking.''

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