HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asserted that work on the Pulichintala project would take off on Sunday "come what may" and any resistance to it from any quarter would not be tolerated.

"This project gives a new lease of life to 11 lakh acres of Krishna basin. My only question to the detractors of the project is this: Are you opposed to the welfare of farmers ?" he asked.

The Chief Minister also ruled out any change in the project site.

Dr. Reddy said clearances would be obtained soon for the pending projects in a systematic manner.

Next on the State Government's list are Thotapalli Barrage, Alisagar and Gutpa and the Government was gearing up to present its case in favour of these three projects at New Delhi on June 15.

He said it would be a historical blunder on part of the Congress Government if it could not keep its promise on irrigation projects.

"We are confident we can complete at least eight projects in two years, yielding substantial benefit to the State," he added.

Loss of water

The Chief Minister reiterated that clearances for most of the Godavari-based projects would be secured by the year-end.

"We are losing 3,000 tmcft of Godavari waters to the sea every year.

Development of the backward Telangana is very much linked to the utilisation of Godavari waters.

There will be no discrimination of any sort. What Pulichintala is to Krishna delta, Yellampalli and Dummugudem are to Telangana and Handri-Neeva and Galeru-Nagari are to Rayalaseema," the Chief Minister said.

Painstaking job

He said damage done to the agriculture sector by the neglect of irrigation would be undone. "A real painstaking job goes into convincing the Central agencies to give clearances," he added.

While greeting the farmers, Dr. Reddy said he considered Sunday an auspicious day for the State in general and for the Krishna delta farmers in particular, as it saw commencement of work on Pulichintala.

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