The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Chief Minister launches TBM works

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Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Chief Minister launches TBM works

Correspondent

Boring machine to drill 44-km long tunnel as part of Srisalam Left Bank Canal project works

‘Every acre will be brought under the plough’
State ready to spend any amount for Telangana

— PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

Massive project: A farmer watches the gigantic Tunnel Bore Machine (TBM) works of Srisailam Left Bank Canal Tunnel Scheme at Mannevarepalle Mandal of Achampet in Mahabubnagar district on Sunday.

MAHBUBNAGAR: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday fired another developmental salvo to counter the Telangana sentiment being espoused by protagonists of a separate State.

He launched a mega 135-metre long tunnel boring machine (TBM) works near Mannevaripally village in Achampet mandal, which would drill a 44-km long tunnel as part of the Srisalam Left Bank Canal project.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Reddy said every acre of cultivable land in Telangana region would be brought under the plough by lifting river waters.

“Telangana is part of the Deccan Plateau. River waters traverse the Telangana much below the land surface and hence the only way to provide water is by lift irrigation (LI),” he said.

The Chief Minister said his Government was all set to take up work on the Pranahita – Chevella LI scheme with a view to irrigate 12 lakh acres in the six districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak and parts of Nalgonda and Medak. About 160 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of Godavari waters would be lifted to a height of 600 metres, he said.

The Pranahita-Chevella project would be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 19,000 crore, he said, adding that the Congress Government was prepared to spend any amount required for irrigating Telangana.

In the past four years, Rs. 30,000 crore were spent on irrigation projects, of which over 50 per cent was in Telangana alone, he said, pointing out that the erstwhile Telugu Desam Party had spent only Rs. 600 crore in 20 years.

Home Minister K. Jana Reddy termed the occasion ‘historic’ and one that marked the realisation of a 25 year-old dream of people in Nalgonda district.

Others present on the occasion included Ministers P. Lakshmaiah (Major Irrigation), G. Chinna Reddy (Rural Development) and R. Damodar Reddy (IT and Youth Affairs) and legislators Komatireddy Venkat Reddy (Nalgonda) and Vamsi Krishna (Achampet).

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