The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Work on Hundri-Neeva branch canal launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Work on Hundri-Neeva branch canal launched

Staff Reporter

Filled tanks to improve groundwater table
Branch canal to irrigate 35,000 acres directly

MADAKASIRA (ANANTAPUR DT.): Minister for Housing B. Satyanarayana and Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy conducted ‘bhoomi pooja’ and launched works on the Madakasira Branch Canal (MBC) of Hundri -Neeva project near Kondampalli village in the district on Friday. The branch canal would be excavated with a cost of about Rs. 500 crore.

Speaking at a public meeting later here Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said that MBC was only the irrigation canal/project in the ‘Jalayagnam’ programme intended to feed tanks. It was possible with the special interest of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to help the backward Madakasira area.

Once filled, the tanks in the area would serve farmers for two years as percolation tanks improving groundwater table.

The water could be used for direct irrigation in the event of surplus rains, he said. Irrigation and drinking water problems of the area would be completely overcome over the next four years, he said.

Water woes

The problem of fluoride and woes of women in fetching safe drinking water would be overcome in the next four months in the villages linked to Sreerama Reddy drinking water project, as the works were nearing completion. The Chief Minister was committed to bring Green Revolution in the drought-prone Rayalaseema with irrigation projects, Mr. Satyanarayana said. Cement would be supplied to beneficiaries of housing scheme in their villages itself where there were more than 100 houses under construction.

Canal measurement

Engineer-in-Chief of Irrigation B.V.S. Prakash Rao said the MBC canal would have a length of about 310 km with its take off point near Chennekothapalli.

It would irrigate 35,000 acres directly and feed another 460 tanks in Madakasira, Penukonda and Hindupur constituencies.

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

Andhra Pradesh