The Hindu : Front Page : YSR to seek Central help for completing projects

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 11, 2005

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YSR to seek Central help for completing projects

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, will seek Central help to complete the irrigation projects taken up on the Godavari and the Krishna and thus avoid huge quantities of water going waste.

He wants to take up the matter with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, when the latter visits the State on August 21 for inaugurating the second phase of land distribution. During the meeting, Dr. Reddy will highlight the need for immediate completion of the projects to prevent loss of water.

According to an estimate, more than 3,000 tmcft is going into the sea from the Godavari every year. The loss this year so far has been put at 1,150 tmcft as nearly 200 tmcft is let out from the Dowleswaram anicut. In case of the Krishna, the quantity will be more than 7,00 tmcft for the season. This is based on the forecast that the floods will continue for some more days forcing heavy discharges from Srisailam and other projects.

At a review meeting here on Wednesday, Dr. Reddy asked senior officials of the Irrigation and Finance Departments to prepare a report on wastage of water and the projects prioritised by the Government to reverse this trend, indicating the funds requirements.

A press release from the Chief Minister's Office said the projects would require nearly Rs. 50,000 crores. Efforts were on by the Government to raise Rs. 40,000 crores through various means.

Dr. Reddy would seek Central assistance as loan/grant or a special package to fill the Rs. 10,000-crore gap.

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