The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday spelt out his government’s plans to prioritise irrigation sector projects so that these could benefit the agriculture sector.

Releasing a white paper on the irrigation sector, he said on-going projects in this sector would require an outlay of Rs 17,500 crore, excluding the Polavaram project.

He also announced a drip irrigation project on a pilot basis in Anantapur district, which would be replicated in other districts later.

The white paper aims to make the state drought-proof in the next five years.

He blamed the lop-sided policies of the previous governments and indiscriminate use of funds for the continuing delay in some of the irrigation projects. “This has only bled the state finances, without giving any positive results for the farm sector,” he said.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had also pointed out serious lapses in the irrigation projects and highlighted poor prioritisation of projects.

About 86 projects worth Rs 1,90,000 crore were taken up by the previous governments, but a major chunk of these were not completed because of such lop-sided policies.

Naidu stressed the need for Polavaram project for the development of the new state. In this context, he said a suitable relief and rehabilitation package would be worked out for the displaced persons.

For the drought prone districts of Rayalseema, the focus will be on harnessing the available water and drip irrigation projects.

Speaking on crop loan waiver, he said the State Government is determined to implement the scheme and is pursuing with the Reserve Bank of India for the re-scheduling of crop loans for a longer term.

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