Srikakulam: Partial irrigation benefits to nearly 45,000 acres under four major and medium irrigation projects in the three northern districts of Visakhapatnam,Vizianagaram and Srikakulam will be made available in the ensuing kharif season. Of them, the Peddagedda medium irrigation project in Vizianagaram district, with a designed ayacut of 12,000 acres, is likely to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on August 8.

Aucutdars under this Rs. 75-crore project will get partial irrigation benefits for 8500 acres.

According to G. Prasada Rao, Chief Engineer, North Coast, the Jhanajavathi project, also in Vizianagaram district will get partial irrigation benefit for 9000 acres. The total ayacut under this project is 24,700 acres.

The total cost of the project is Rs.124 crores and in the first phase Rs.75 crores has been spent. Other works are in progress, says Mr. Rao.

Work in progress

Mr. Rao has told The Hindu that the Rs.38-crore Pedduru irrigation project in Visakhapatnam district is nearing completion and irrigation water will be made available for 13,000 acres. So far Rs.35 crore has been spent on this project. Regarding the Vamsadhara project in Srikakulam district, Mr. Rao has said that under State 11 of Phase 1 scheme (Right Main Canal), 82,000 acres are proposed to be developed originally.

Water release

Water has been released for 40,000 acres in the last two years.

This year, water is proposed to be released to another 20,000 acres, but since works are delayed at a railway crossing, only 10,000 acres upstream of the railway crossing will get water this kharif season.

Water will formally be released by Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao soon.

Vamsadhara project

The remaining ayacut will get water as soon as the railways completed the works at the crossing, says Mr. Rao.

The Stage 11 of phase 11 of Vamsadhara consists of three packages -- a 14 km canal from Katragada and Singidi reservoir (package 87), a balancing reservoir at Parapuram (package 88) and Hiramandal reservoir for which more than 9000 acres of land will have to be acquired.

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