Andhra Pradesh - Khammam   

Godavari to irrigate over 68,000 acres

KHAMMAM: Some 68,914 acres of agriculture land in five revenue mandals of Khammam district, including Tirumalayapalem that is considered to be one of the rain shadow pockets in the State, will be extended irrigation facility by diverting the Godavari waters, according to Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sambhani Chandrasekhar.

Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, he said that the government had given the green signal for laying “separate and an independent pipeline” that was estimated to cost Rs. 800 crores to draw 6.50 tmc of water from the river from the upstream of Dummugudem project for the purpose.

The government had accorded administrative approval for preparation of detailed project report and sanctioned Rs. 2.8 crore for investigation and survey work, he said.

An area of 27,143 acres would get the irrigation facility in Tirumalayapalem mandal.

It would also benefit 23,448 acres in Kusumanchi mandal, 12,924 acres in Khammam rural mandal, 2,440 acres in Mudigonda mandal and 2,951 acres in Nelakondapalli mandal.

In fact, the area sought to be stabilised under the scheme was proposed to be irrigated under the Sriramsagar project Phase II.

He explained that the scheme included a gravity canal from Lalithapuram tank to Garla tank (25 km), gravity canal from Garla tank to Andanalapadu tank (30 km) and a pipeline from Andanalapadu to the dripping point (13 km) near Maripeda in Warangal district.

The Minister said over one lakh acres of area could be brought under cultivation in the district once the project was completed.

The government was keen on calling for tenders for the implementation of the project shortly.

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