Rajahmundry (PTI): United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will inaugurate the first phase of the Tota Venkatachalam Pushkara Lift Irrigation Scheme at Purushottapatnam village in East Godavari district on Friday.

Around 77,882 acres will get irrigation facilities in the first phase of the scheme to take up Kharif cultivation from August 2008.

The Lift irrigation Scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 608.04 crore, on River Godavari Left Bank has targeted ayacut of 1.86 lakh acre and will provide potable water to nearly 5.23 lakh people in 143 villages of 14 mandalams in the District.

Work on the seven of the 11 sub-lifts has already begun while forest clearance and court cases are causing delay in execution of works in the remaining four.

Works on the scheme began on January 23, 2004, and were excepted to be completed by September end of this year. Around 65 per cent work is completed as of now at the cost of more than Rs 400 crore.