Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the government is contemplating establishing a water resources corporation that will meet the financial requirement of projects. The officials concerned have been asked to prepare proposals for linking the rivers of Vamsadhara and Nagavali.
He has instructed the officials to release ₹425 crore immediately to small and medium irrigation projects and mobilise an equal amount in the near future.
Addressing the weekly review meeting on the Polavaram project at the Interim Government Complex at Velagapudi in Guntur district on Monday, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said steps should be taken to complete the small and medium projects in the coming two seasons.
He wanted compensation to be paid to the displaced persons of the Vamsadhara project by the month-end. Officials told the Chief Minister that of the total ₹422 crore due to the Vamsadhara project–affected people, ₹160 crore was paid so far.
Progress enquired
The Chief Minister enquired about the progress of the Chintalapudi lift irrigation scheme, Pula Subbaiah Velugonda project, Tarakarama project in Vizianagaram district, Thotapalli reservoir, Galeru-Nagari, Handri-Neeva, Madakasira, Pothireddypadu, Gandikota, Balaji reservoir, Malle Madugu and Swarnamukhi projects.
He directed the officials to utilise six tmcft of water from Jeedipalli and Gollapalli projects to meet the drinking water needs of Chittoor and Anantapur districts.
On the Polavaram project, the officials told the Chief Minister that 1.48 lakh cubic metres of earthwork of the spillway was completed from February 13 to 19. It was targeted to finish 18.97 lakh cubic metres of earthwork this week.
Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Special Chief Secretary (finance) Ajeya Kallam, Chief Secretary (water resources) Sasi Bhushan Kumar and Engineering-in-Chief Venkateswara Rao were present.
