Minister for Rural Development Vatti Vasanta Kumar on Monday informed that a proposal was under the government's consideration for a drinking water scheme to cater to the needs of 10 Kolleru villages in Nidamarru mandal of West Godavari district. He was speaking at the Praja Patham programmes at Krovvidi, Bavaipalem, Siddhapuram and Chalamilli villages under Nidamarru mandal. The scheme proposed to be executed with an estimated cost of Rs. 3 crores was designed to draw water from the Godavari for supply in a cluster of 10 villages suffering from acute shortage of protected water.
Contamination
He said the Kolleru villages were facing water problem because of contamination of drinking water sources due to salinity and fishponds. Mr. Vasanta Kumar said execution of the scheme would commence in the present summer itself as the government was quite likely to accord administrative sanction for the proposal in a few days.
The Minister said the administration was getting ready to taken up another major issue of modernisation of drainage system in Kolleru lake. It was decided to modernise 62 major drains with Rs. 14 crores as part of the endeavour to save people and crops in and around the lake from recurring floods because of the poor drainage system.
He also stated that all minor irrigation canals and drains in the district were proposed to be given a facelift under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Embarrassing moments
The Minister had to face some embarrassing moments when a woman petitioner complained that the Rajiv Arogyasri programme lost its sheen after the demise of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
The woman recalled that she was operated upon for damage of spinal cord with an assistance of Rs. 5 lakhs extended under the scheme by the late leader. “If I am like this, it is only because of his (YSR's ) kind heart. But, I fail to receive any assistance for purchase of medicines under the scheme now after his demise,” she said.
