The State government has ordered preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of Neradi barrage across the Vamsadhara, considered to be the lifeline for Srikakulam district.
It has asked the senior irrigation officials to complete the process by end of this year to take up the works as early as possible.
According to sources, the estimation was Rs. 50 crore when Neradi barrage was planned three decades ago. Now its preliminary cost will be Rs. 550 crore.
To avoid further escalation of the project expenditure, the State government is in a hurry to construct the barrage within a couple of years .
Minister for Transport and BC Welfare K. Atchannaidu spoke to Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao over the preparation of DPR as all the decks were cleared by the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal.
“We have to make assessment over the compensation to be paid to farmers of Odisha as their properties would get inundated with the construction of Neradi barrage. We hope Odisha government would also extend its support for land acquisition in its jurisdiction,” said Mr. Atchannaidu while speaking to The Hindu .
Speedy development
According to him, Neradi barrage would ensure speedy development of the Srikakulam district with the optimum utilisation of Vamsadhara waters.
The river which originates in Odisha, flows for 154 km in that State, 29 km along the border between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and 82 km in Andhra Pradesh.
