Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated four irrigation schemes — Vedavathi lift irrigation, Gundrevula, Rajolibanda diversion scheme (RDS) and Tungabhadra project low-level canal — at a cost of ₹8,107 crore at a public meeting at Kodumur on Saturday. He said the government was working hard to develop Rayalaseema into ‘Ratnalaseema’.
The CM announced that Vedavathi would cost ₹1,942 crores and would bring 8.5 TMC water to Aluru, Holagunda, Adoni, and Kowthalam mandals irrigating more than 80,000 acres. Tenders had been released and the work would begin soon.
The Gundrevula project would irrigate about 2,65,600 acres. He said once the Telangana and the Karnataka governments gave the nod, the work would be finished.
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He said the TBPLLC would irrigate 43,000 acres in kharif and 1,07,000 acres in rabi. The LLC though comes with the same caveat — permission from the neighbouring States.
The RDS project costing ₹1,985 crores would bring about 4 TMC of water to Aluru, Mantralayam, Yemmiganuru, and Kodumuru. The project would irrigate 40,000 acres.
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Following Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy’s request, the Chief Minister said he had sanctioned funds for the filling of 68 lakes in the district under the Handri-Neeva Sujula Sravanti (HNSS) scheme.
On the drinking water crisis, he said a plan was being drawn for the supply of 214 TMC to the region. He also promised the people of Kurnool a High Court Bench, an indoor stadium and a degree college in the city.