The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : State agrees to release more water to Yanam

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Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

State agrees to release more water to Yanam

Special Correspondent

Gesture follows the Pondy Chief Minister's meeting with Rajasekhara Reddy

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has granted the request of his Pondicherry counterpart, N. Rangasamy, to release additional 11 cusecs of Godavari water to augment drinking water supply and meet the irrigation needs of Yanam town.

After calling on Dr. Reddy at the Secretariat, Mr. Rangasamy, and the Yanam MLA, Malladi Krishna Rao, told reporters that Andhra Pradesh was at present providing 19 cusecs and another 11cusecs was needed to meet drinking water and other needs. Expressing happiness at the outcome of the meeting, they said the Andhra Pradesh Government promised to provide the additional quantity free of cost.

Land for reservoir

Dr. Reddy also agreed to allot 50 acres of land for constructing a reservoir to store the additional water. Mr. Rangasamy informed the Chief Minister that the Pondicherry Government would purchase the land.

Mr. Rangasamy said his Government would bear the cost when the Chief Minister took up the issue of providing lights on the Yeddurlanka bridge at a cost of Rs. one crore.

According to an official release, the utilisation would be three cusecs each for drinking and industrial needs and 24 cusecs for irrigation. It said the water charge demands raised by the Andhra Pradesh Government since 1959 to 2003 was Rs. 15.75 lakhs for irrigation and Rs. 50.89 lakhs for industrial needs. While a total of Rs. 77 lakhs, including penal interest was to be paid by Pondicherry Government, an amount of Rs. 2.08 lakhs was paid during 2002.

It said the Andhra Pradesh Government issued GO MS 72 on April 26, 2004, constituting a committee with members of both Governments. The terms of reference were specified to assess the needs of water supply, infrastructure, estimation and recommendation on tariff charges.

The Pondicherry Chief Minister handed over a cheque for Rs. 50,680 towards tsunami relief to Dr. Reddy.

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