Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said that he would go to any length to ensure early completion of the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project (PLIP) so as to ensure water supply to the drought-prone Rayalaseema districts.
The Chief Minister, who laid the foundation stone for the project here, said since Polavaram project would take another four years to complete, the government would ensure completion of the Rs. 1,300-crore Pattiseema project in a year.
“If need be, I will sleep at the sites, wherever construction of irrigation projects are in progress such as Polavaram, Pattiseema, Tatipudi and Chintalapudi to ensure timely completion of these projects,” he said.
Mr. Naidu tried to allay farmers’ fears in East and West Godavari districts on the project. Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinna Rajappa and Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao were also present. Under the scheme, it is proposed to divert 80 tmcft of surplus water from Godavari River to Krishna Delta. And the same would be tapped at Pattiseema.
On the Godavari right bank, 13 pumps and motors will be installed with the discharge capacity of 8,500 cusecs. The water will be pumped up through motors to a 54-metre pipeline and then on to the Polavaram right canal. The water will then be pumped into Krishna River .
Mr. Naidu further said that once the water was stored in Prakasam reservoir through the RMC, the Srisailam flood waters could be diverted to Rayalaseema through projects like Handri-Neeva, Galeru-Nagari to cater to the needs of farmers in Chittoor and Anantapur districts.
He promised that only flood water draining into the sea from the Godavari will be diverted to address the water woes of Rayalaseema region. “I promise you (farmers) that no lift irrigation machine will work at Pattiseema village, if the water level is below 13.67-meter-mark,” he said, adding that that the government’s first priority would be Godavari Delta and safeguarding the interests of farmers of the two districts.
Mr. Naidu declared that the government would complete all irrigation projects in record time and link all the rivers in the State. “The linking of rivers will help us utilise surplus water flowing into the sea to irrigate thousands of acres facing severe drought in Rayalaseema districts. Rain water harvesting, drip and sprinkler irrigation and other water conservation schemes are out top priority,” he said.
I promise you (farmers) that no lift irrigation machine will work at Pattiseema, if the water level is below 13.67-metre mark
N. Chandrababu Naidu,Chief Minister
