KURNOOL: The irrigation potential in Kurnool district will increase by 2.5 lakh acres if the on-going projects are completed. The existing canals are supplying water to 4.40 lakh acres in the district, Collector Vikas Raj said at the Republic Day function here on Thursday.

After hoisting the national flag, he said the second phase of Owk reservoir, Galeru-Nagari and Sujala-Sravanti project works were taken up at a cost of Rs. 1,375 crores and the works will be completed in three years. Also, Hundri-Neeva canals costing Rs. 1,300 crores was being developed. Three reservoirs of the project would be constructed in Kurnool district at Krishnagiri, Pathikonda and Jeedipalli villages.

Six lift irrigation schemes were being executed apart from 13 new lift irrigation schemes costing Rs. 95 crores sanctioned recently.

Focus on bio-diesel

Mr. Vikas Raj said bio-diesel plantations would be taken up in a big way this year in 50,000 acres while 5,000 acres was brought under the plantations so far. He said the women self-help groups started a novel project of procuring paddy and other foodgrains with the capital available with them. So far, 40,000 quintals of paddy was bought. Sunflower and bengalgram were also being procured.

The Collector said day hostels were being set up under ILO-sponsored child labour eradication programme. The project costing Rs. 11 crores is aimed at creating child labour free district by 2007. Apart from it, the government sanctioned an amount of Rs 18.54 crores for carrying repairs to 66 school buildings and construction of additional classrooms. SP B. Malla Reddy, Joint Collector Ramsankar Naik, district judge Krishna Mohan Reddy and officials were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail