Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao on Monday said the government had released Rs. 701.41 crore towards compensation to farmers, who had parted with their lands for the Polavaram Right Canal works.
“Efforts are being made to divert excess Godavari flood waters to Prakasam Barrage through the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme by August 15. Once completed, water can be diverted from the Polavaram right canal to Prakasam Barrage via Pattiseema in 24 hours,” he added.
Farmers in Krishna district had agreed to part with 1,237 acres, while those in West Godavari had parted with 561 acres voluntarily under the land pooling scheme for the project.
Since 2006, works pertaining to the Polavaram Right Canal have been a contentious issue, and several farmers had approached the court. “The objective of the project is to provide water to meet the drinking and irrigation requirements of Krishna and Godavari deltas,” Mr. Rao said. On an average, the State received 90 per cent excess rainfall this year, and the government is trying to provide sufficient water to farmers in districts, which received normal rainfall, the Minister said.
