Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao on Sunday said farmers in Krishna district agreed to part with 1,200 acres voluntarily under the land pooling for taking up Polavaram right canal works. Farmers in West Godavari district had earlier agreed to part with 600 acres and with this land requirement for the project was addressed.
Since 2006, it had been a contentious issue and many farmers approached the court. However, the farmers in the 12 villages in Krishna have now agreed to part their lands after district Collector Babu A, conducted a few meetings, assuring them to pay market value for their lands. The price would be fixed according to the basic value of the land in respective villages, the Minister said at a press conference here.
“The consent of farmers will be an added inspiration to us and all efforts would be made to complete the Polavaram project in four years,” said Mr. Rao. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was closely monitoring the project development as this would a long way in addressing the irrigation and drinking water needs of Rayalaseema region apart from benefiting Krishna delta, he said.
Mr. Rao said the State government was taking all measures to safeguard the interests of farmers and irrigation projects. The water sharing pact of 511 tmcft for Andhra and Rayalaseema regions and 299 tmcft for Telangana signed in 2013 was only a temporary measure and the same would be brought to the notice of central government, he said.
Criticises Jagan
Accusing YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy as ‘Rayalaseema betrayer’, the Minister said the Telugu Desam government was committed to addressing the water issues in Rayalaseema. Eleven tmcft of water was released for Anantapur and Kurnool districts this year and next year Rajampeta would be supplied sufficient water.
“Sankranti 2016 will be a big bonanza for people of Kuppam as efforts are being made to supply sufficient water to the area by next year. This will be followed with supplies to Kadapa as well,” said Mr. Rao.
