The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Rs. 4 crores sanctioned to mitigate water problem: Botcha

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Rs. 4 crores sanctioned to mitigate water problem: Botcha

Correspondent

SE seeks Rs. 63.40 lakhs for repairs to crest gates of Thotapalli regulator

Farmers warned not to block field channels of Peddagedda
No shortage of fertilizers at present, says Minister

VIZIANAGARAM: As a step toward mitigating drinking water problem in rural areas and in municipalities it has been decided at the District Review Committee meeting held here on Saturday to carry out repairs to defunct bore wells and replace pipelines where necessary. An amount of Rs. 4 crores was sanctioned and Rs. 1 crore was released, said Botcha Satyanarayana, Minister for Panchayat Raj. In-charge Minister G. Venkata Reddy was in the chair along with Zilla Parishad Chairperson B. Chandrasekhar and Collector G. Ram Narayana Reddy.

When P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, TDP MLA, pointed out that some influential persons had been fixing motors illegally and drawing water, Mr. Satyanarayana ordered a special drive for a month from March 7 in Vizianagaram municipality limits. Those found guilty would be punished and imposed penalty. Refuting claim of RWS officials that only 142 bore wells out of 13,732 were defunct, the TDP MLA said that 40 per cent of the bore wells in his constituency were not working and the official information was far from ground reality. He also feared that Parvathipuram town would not get water if the Thotapalli river gap was closed and municipal wells submerged. The Minister said that alternative arrangements were underway. With regard to fluoride-hit villages along sea coast, he said that plan was being evolved this year to tackle the problem. Mr. Satyanarayana said that Rs. 5 lakhs each for 120 schools in the district was sanctioned for providing drinking water and sanitation.

On irregularities in the payment of compensation to farmers hit by natural calamities in Salur constituency last year, Mr. Satyanarayana asked Joint Collector P. Lakshmi Narasimham to frame charges against officials and suspend them in the next one week.

The ineligible reportedly had received compensation there. On complaints about selling cattle sanctioned under Pasu Kranti scheme, he said that action would be initiated under Revenue Recovery Act and also against the buyers.

Ruling out release of water from the new Thotapalli regulator for the ensuing kharif, SE (Irrigation) sought Rs. 63.40 lakhs to execute repairs to crest gates of old regulator that were damaged in floods. He was asked to submit a comprehensive report as the government had released Rs. 21 lakhs for repairs then. The Minister warned farmers of action if any one blocked field channels of Peddagedda after P. Rajanna Dora complained that 800 acres out of 12,000 acres of the contemplated ayacut under the project were not receiving water.

Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao, Bobbili MLA, said that 50 per cent of ryotsunder Vengalaraosagar was not getting water due to poor maintenance of field channels.

On supply of urea, the minister said that cases would be registered and punished if dealers sold it over Rs. 238 per bag and added that there was no shortage of fertilizers at present.

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