Farmers under the aegis of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) staged a dharna in front of Irrigation Department Superintending Engineer’s office in Vijayawada on Friday, demanding completion of Polampalli dam on Munneru.
Jaggayyapeta MLA Sriram Rajagopal and TDP Vijayawada Parliamentary Constituency in-charge Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) submitted a memorandum to the irrigation officials stating the facts about the project. The TDP leaders said that the project was taken up in 2004 and was to be completed within two years. The dam would provide irrigation waters to 20,000 acres in Vatsavai, Penuganchiprolu, and Nandigama mandals.
The government has spent Rs.35 crore to construct the dam and also released Rs.18 crore for the gates. However, there is an inordinate delay in erection of the gates.
Deputy Superintending Engineer Ch. Ramakrishna said that major portion of the dam was completed. Remaining civil and mechanical works have to be completed. There was a breach near the dam and proposals were sent for repairing it. A clearance from finance department is pending, he said, and assured the TDP delegation of necessary action.