: Work on the Handri-Neeva branch canals for Punganur and Kuppam is in full swing. Officials assert that over 80 per cent of work has been completed.
Grounded in 2007 during the Congress regime, HNSS canal work commenced from Kadiri in Anantapur district to Madanapalle division. After a two-year hectic schedule, work almost came to a standstill after 2011. Tunnel works and forest clearance issues had delayed the project’s progress.
Work resumed again in 2014, with a major portion of canal work concentrated at Katlatapalle and Ramireddigaripalle villages near Madanapalle.
HNSS (Madanapalle) Executive Engineer, P.V. Ramireddy told The Hindu that the stretch of the canal from Kadiri to Palamaner, called HNSS Punganur branch, is 220.5 km long, and in the case of the Kuppam branch canal it is 140 km.
“Work under the first phase up to Palamaner has almost been completed and we have to deal with another 2 km of tunnel works near Madanapalle. At any cost, we will ensure that Chittoor region gets the much-needed water on or before August 31. Work on the Palamaner-Kuppam branch is progressing at a brisk pace,” he said.
Farmers thanked
Since 2007, Rs. 500 crore has been pumped into the first phase from Kadiri to Palamaner, and another Rs. 468 crore was spent on the Kuppam branch canal. The Punganur branch canal envisages 12 tmcft supply and the Kuppam branch another 2 tmcft from Srisailam.
The official said that during the last two years, the issue of land acquisition has been sorted out without any major hiccups. “Now, the problem is zero per cent, thanks to the cooperation extended by the farmers,” he said.
"The prime objective of the HNSS is to provide drinking water to a population of over 60 lakhs, and irrigation water to about one lakh acres. In future, based on water availability, the acreage will be expanded. Initially, we have plans to provide water to as many as 110 tanks in Chittoor district, covering eight western mandals,” Mr. Reddy said.
In order to speed up work, the officials are planning to engage one more boomer machine (used for heavy earth and tunnel works), in addition to the two they already have.
