Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offered special prayers at ‘Pavitra sangamam’, the confluence of the Krishna and the Godavari, at Ferry near here on Tuesday.
Mr. Naidu offered silk robes to the rivers at the confluence. On the occasion, Mr. Naidu said that his dream of linking the rivers had come true.
“Former Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao used to say that one can achieve anything if one has a strong will. Planning and determination would lead to success. The government could complete the interlinking of rivers, considered next to impossible by many critics, with strong determination,” he said, adding that the farmers should make use of the water available.
Crops saved
The government could save crops worth Rs. 2,500 crore by linking the Krishna and the Godavari. The government acquired 18 acres and diverted 8.8 tmcft of water from the Godavari to the Krishna. The government would interlink all rivers, tanks, and drains in future. There were 40,000 tanks in the State, he said.
“Sir Arthur Cotton had planned linking of rivers though the British government did not agree to it. He is god for the people of East and West Godavari districts as he helped irrigate lakhs of acres. People remember his services even today,” the Chief Minister said.
Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad, Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, BC Welfare Minister Kollu Ravindra, and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) were present.
