The Hindu : Front Page : Chief Minister rededicates Nagarjunasagar project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

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Chief Minister rededicates Nagarjunasagar project

`Left canal lift scheme serving Telangana to get equal treatment'

MOMENTOUS OCCASION: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, unveiling the martyrs' memorial at Pylon in Nagarjunsagar on Saturday. Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and State Ministers --Ponnala Laxmaiah and K. Jana Reddy — are also seen. — PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

NAGARJUNASAGAR: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has announced that the 42 lift irrigation schemes of Nagarjunasagar's left bank canal serving Telangana region will be treated on a par with that of the right bank canal flowing to Andhra region in terms of maintenance and power supply.

Rededicating the Nagarjunasagar project to the nation at its golden jubilee celebrations here on Saturday, Dr. Reddy said separate feeders were being provided at a cost of Rs. 13 cores to ensure power supply to the left bank schemes for 16 hours a day. The lift schemes are now covering 1 lakh acres.

Amidst applause from a large gathering, he also announced three more major benefits ---water release to the 22 lakh acres ayacut of the project for the second crop, a Rs. 3,000-crore World Bank- funded scheme to modernise the canal system to ensure water to the tail-end areas and launching of the Anupu lift scheme in two months and taking up the Varakapudisala lift after receipt of the report on water availability.

Dr. Reddy expressed resolve to go ahead with the two links proposed to divert Godavari waters to the Krishna for better utilisation of water in the latter--Polavaram to Prakasam Barrage and Dummagudem to Nagarjunasagar. Water thus saved in the Krishna would be diverted to serve Rayalaseema and Telangana regions but without affecting the Krishna delta and Nagarjunasagar ayacut.

He criticised Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu for his doublespeak on the Pothireddypadu head regulator.

The Chief Minister recalled how Pandit Nehru called dams modern temples while laying the foundation stone for Nagarjunasagar this day 50 years ago, and pledged to complete his mission by implementing Jalayagnam. He sought blessings of people to cherish this stupendous task. Regarding Pulichintala, he said: "Earlier, people only spoke about it. We will complete it at any cost."

Dr. Reddy unveiled busts of Dr. K. L. Rao and others.

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