The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP scores a point over Tadipudi scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP scores a point over Tadipudi scheme

Staff Reporter

TADEPALLIGUDEM: The Telugu Desam Party has succeeded in pinning down the Government on its demand for a relook at the relevance of the Tadipudi lift scheme in the wake of a proposal for construction of the Polavaram Right Canal.

Participating in a debate on Tadipudi lift scheme here on Sunday, P. Sitapati Rao, Advisor to the State Government on irrigation matters, conceded the plea of Sana Maruti, an irrigation expert representing the TDP, to approach an independent agency to look into the technical feasibilities for integration of the two schemes.

Mr Maruti highlighted the need to reduce the loss of lands by integrating both projects.

Loss of lands

The two schemes were proposed to go side by side just in a gap of 400-450 metres. Consequently, they would result in loss of 6,600 acres of lands, displacing a host of farmers.

The loss could be reduced by 50 per cent by integrating the schemes, Mr Maruti argued. "My proposal is technically feasible. I am challenging the Government to disprove it,'' he said.

Mr Sitapathi Rao tried to convince the TDP saying both proposals were finalised after the vetting of their designs by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and that there was no need for a relook at the issue. When Mr Maruti asked the Irrigation officials to be "humane" while dealing with the project designs in the larger interests of people, Mr Sitapati Rao relented and obliged his request.

The TDP succeeded in convincing the Government of the need for treating the canal oustees as project-affected persons and implementing the relocation and rehabilitation package for them, including payment of displacement allowance until revival of their sources of livelihood.

A group of farmers from Devarapalli and Nallajarla mandals staged a demonstration near the venue of the debate seeking a fair deal in payment of compensation for their lands to be acquired for execution of the right canal.

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