The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR for linking of projects

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Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR for linking of projects

Special Correspondent

‘ Veligallu and Handri Neeva can together irrigate more than one lakh acres of land’

VELIGALLU (KADAPA DT.): Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced plans for linking Veligallu medium irrigation project in Lakkireddipalle constituency with Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti project for bringing one lakh more acres under irrigation in the backward constituency in addition to Veligallu’s ayacut of 24,000 acres.

Addressing a public meeting after dedicating to the nation the Rs. 208-crore Veligallu project and releasing water to its right canal, Dr. Reddy said the government would strive to make the perennially drought-prone area fertile even if it costs Rs. 3 crore per acre. Describing Rayachoti and Lakkireddipalle constituencies in Kadapa district and Anantapur district as being more backward than Telangana region, he asserted that utilising one-fourth of the water flowing into the sea from Krishna and Godavari rivers would help make every acre in the State fertile, but it entailed a huge financial outlay.

Additional water

The Chief Minister hoped to get additional allocation of Krishna water when the Krishna Water Tribunal disposes of a case in which the State government projected a requirement of 2,000 tmcft. of water, as against the previous allotment of 811 tmcft.

Assuring to permanently mitigate the drinking water scarcity in Rayachoti town, he said a Rs. 42-crore drinking water scheme from Veligallu and Rs. 28-crore water scheme from Annamayya project in Rajampet were taken up for catering to the drinking water needs of Rayachoti. Srinivasapuram reservoir linked to Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti costing Rs. 301 crore, for which he laid foundation stone on Monday, would be completed in the next three-and-half years.

Ministers Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Galla Aruna Kumari, Rajampet MP A. Sai Pratap, MLCs, MLAs and Congress leaders participated.

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