VIJAYAWADA: Thirty-six lift irrigation (LI) schemes will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 100 crores to create an additional ayacut of 64,000 acres, mostly in the upland mandals of Krishna district, according to a blue print prepared by the Vijayawada irrigation circle. Eight LI schemes already taken up with the help of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of NABARD are scheduled for completion by the end of summer.

The Government has taken up the daunting task of reviving the lift irrigation schemes that are in a state of neglect for want of adequate funds for their maintenance. The Government sanctioned Rs. 433 crores to revive 350 defunct schemes in the State. Revival of defunct schemes in Krishna district will be taken up in two phases.

The Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad, has been entrusted with the job of reviving LI schemes in the first phase and Andhra Pradesh State Irrigation Development Corporation (APSIDC) in the second phase.

The APSIDC is maintaining 66 LI schemes with an ayacut of 33,000 acres in Krishna district. The Government has handed over another 25 LI schemes, which are being maintained by the irrigation department, to the corporation. The 91 LI schemes in the district have an ayacut of 57,900 acres, but crop was grown in only 42,700 acres in Khariff last year.

Nearing completion

Pokkunur and Vedadri-Kanchala schemes located in Chandarlapadu mandal, Doddadevarapadu (phase 2) and Wyradhari Annavaram (phase 2) schemes in Veerulapadu mandal, Gollamudi (phase 2) and Rudravaram schemes in Nandigama mandal, Veeravalli scheme in Bapulapadu mandal, Kanumuru scheme in Gampalagudem mandal and Nuzvid scheme are scheduled for completion by this year-end.

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