Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy launched a number of projects here on Saturday. Perhaps with an eye on the 2014 polls, he announced completion of the Krishna Phase III and Godavari drinking water projects by March/April next.
He asked the Water Board officials to adhere to the deadline at all cost.
“I will monitor the progress on a monthly basis,” the Chief Minister said after laying foundation stone for the third phase of the Krishna project at Sahebnagar. The Rs.1,670-crore project aims at drawing 90 mgd water relieving the severe shortage facing the city.
The Godavari Phase I project taken up at a cost of Rs. 3,700 crore would bring another 10 tmcft water to the city. With completion of both these projects, daily water supply to the city would become a reality, he said.
The State government would be spending Rs. 8,000 crore this year and Rs. 3,000 crore next year on various projects aimed at augmenting water supply in the GHMC area. A World Bank-funded Rs. 340 crore project for water supply scheme in Malkajgiri was also on the anvil. Similarly, an intake well at Sunkesula in the foreshore of Nagarjunasagar reservoir was being taken up.
Mr. Reddy said the 158-km ring round was in its last leg of completion. Of the 33 radial roads, the government had sanctioned 16 at a cost of Rs. 1,500 crore.
Workers protest
Earlier, as the Chief Minister got up to speak, a section of Water Board employees raised slogans against the Board’s Managing Director. They protested against the non-inclusion of TRS leader Harish Rao’s name in the programme. As the police swung into action and whisked them away, the employees raised ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans.
Roads development
Sarvey Satyanarayana, Union Minister of State for Roads and Highways, hinted at sanctioning Rs. 1,000 crore from the Central Reserve Funds for improvement of State roadways.
Earlier, Mr. Reddy laid stones for a number of civic projects costing Rs. 153 crore. They include construction of a flyover at Tolichowki junction, improvement of Old Mumbai Highway from Tolichowki to Gachibowli, widening of the Botanical Garden- Old Mumbai Highway road, widening the Nandanavanam road. All these projects, which are aimed at easing traffic congestion at respective localities, are expected to be completed within 15 to 24 months. The old Mumbai road from Tolichowki to Gachibowli is proposed to be developed as Expressway by constructing service road on either side for smooth flow of traffic.
