Stating that a whopping Rs. 4,000 crore had already been spent on Polavaram project, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday ruled out the possibility of changing the design of the project and reiterated his resolve to sort out the minor inter-State issues with Odisha government over the project.
Mr. Reddy held a marathon review meeting with the higher officials and the elected public representatives on the concluding day of his three-day district tour, as part of Indiramma Bata programme, here on Friday.
Later talking to mediapersons, he said the project is a viable option to fully tap Godavari waters for the benefit of the farming community.
Irrigation potentia l
The multi-purpose project will give a natural advantage to avoid wastage of precious Godavari waters to an extent of 2,000 to 3,000 tmcs and create enormous irrigation potential, he remarked, adding that the project would ensure 45 tmcs of water to Telangana and Rayalaseema regions.
A huge quantum of 400 tmcs of Godavari water has gone waste into the sea so far, he pointed out saying this could have been avoided had the project been constructed.
He said Odisha State will get 5 tmcs of water from it. I will strive to convince Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to find an out-of-court settlement to the small issues over the project, he said.
All the genuine concerns over the project will be addressed and a comprehensive rehabilitation package will be provided to the land oustees, he said in reply to a query.
Bayyaram
On the demand for a public sector steel factory at Bayyaram, he said the State government has constituted a committee to look into the issue. The committee is exploring the possibilities of handing over the iron ore mines to the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) for setting up a steel factory in the district.
Coal linkages
Efforts are underway to get coal linkages to the two power plants including the Palvancha-based Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) VII stage (1X 800 MWs).
Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdary, Assembly Deputy Speaker M.B. Vikramarka, Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, R. Venkat Reddy and Kondru Murali, MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy and others were present.
