The Hindu Business Line : AP irrigation projects to be put on the fast track

THE State Government has announced a two-pronged strategy to take up and complete about 26 pending irrigation projects by adopting the fast track mode.

This move is aimed at benefiting about 17.6 lakh acres and stabilising existing ayacut of 41.54 lakh acres.

The State Major Irrigation Minister, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, said eight projects from the list of 26 would be completed in two years, which are expected to cover 0.92 lakh acres of new ayacut and 10.94 lakh additional area.

These projects include Vamsadhara stage II, Somasila, Telugu Ganga, and first generation lift irrigation schemes of Godavari (Devadula), Pushkaram, Tadipudi, Alisagar and Gutpa.

In a statement placed in the State Legislative Assembly here today, the Irrigation Minister said 18 other projects which are expected to irrigate 16.9 lakh acres and stabilise 30.6 lakh acres, will be completed in five years.

They are Pulichintala, KC Canal modernisation, Sriramsagar Stage II, Sriramsagar Floodflow canal, Srisailam Left Bank canal, Veligonda, Bhima, Kalwakurthy, Galeru-Nagari, Handri-Niva, Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir, Chitravathi balancing reservoir, Jhanjhavathi, Thotapalli barrage, Gundlakama, Ramathirtha, Gururaghavendra and Nettempadu.

The Minister referred to about 3,000 tmc ft Godavari waters going into the sea yearly and expressed resolve to go ahead with big projects such as Itchampalli, Yellampalli, Dummugudem, and Polavaram after removing all hurdles faced by them.

The Minister in a statement said that the State Government was committed to this gigantic task which would entail huge investments. This task would be achieved through various sources including floating bonds through AP Water Resources Development Corporation, loans from financial institutions, and internal sources and assistance from Central channels such as Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.

Increased allotments would be made factoring this requirement in the coming Budget. While adopting new techniques, the effort would be made to provide clear deadlines to achieve this while making the process transparent and holding the officials accountable for their actions, the Minister said.

Highlighting the Government's effort to lay special thrust on the irrigation sector, the Minister said that the Congress Government had placed agriculture on top list as more than 80 per cent of the State's population depended on the sector for livelihood.

The State Government is negotiating with the Austrian Government for financial aid to take up some of the irrigation projects. The Austrian Government has already extended support to the Devadula project, work on which has commenced.

A delegation is expected to visit the State this month for negotiations, the Minister added.

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