The State government is committed to irrigating 3.35 lakh acres in Anantapur district by completing the distributary canal network of the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project, which was started in 2004, BC Welfare Minister Malagundla Sankar Narayana said emphasising the YSR Congress Party government’s resolve to bring water to the parched lands in all possible ways.
Unfurling the national flag and inspecting the parade at the Police Parade Grounds here on Thursday, on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day, Mr. Sankar Narayana said no water had been given to the ayacut so far, but this financial year one lakh acres would be brought under irrigation completing the distributary canal network.
Currently tanks and reservoirs were being filled with the help of water coming from the Tungabhadra dam through the High Level Canal and the Krishna water through the HNSS. A sum of ₹86 crore was being spent to revive 52 tanks with the help of the World Bank and NABARD funds, he added.
For implementation of a contingency plan for alternative crops 34,000 quintals of several types of seeds were readied for distribution at 100% subsidy and 20,000 MT of micro-nutrients.
He conveyed his wishes to the 15,068 grama volunteers and 4,659 ward volunteers, who were joining service from Thursday. A written test would be conducted in September for recruitment of 8,545 employees in village secretariats and 1,740 in ward secretariats.
Fine rice would be given to 12.23 lakh beneficiaries holding ration cards in Anantapur district from September 1 with 5, 10 and 20 kg packets to be delivered by the volunteers at the doorstep.
1-km tricolour
Ten tableaux innovatively designed to bring out the various schemes of the State government and the mine-proof vehicle of the police formed part of the display. The 1000-metre national flag prepared by the DRDA-Velugu officials and carried by schoolchildren turned out to be key attraction of the parade. The DWAMA’s rain-harvesting measures in 26 mandals for drought-proofing formed the theme of their tableau.
The Agriculture Department’s artificial rain using a drone and the cultural performance as part of the parade in front of its tableau that depicted a bullock cart drew spectators’ attention.
The Forest Department paraded its staff and schoolchildren holding saplings to send a message that it was ready to plant 53.19 lakh of them during this season all over the district.
Blood donation
Indian Red Cross Society organised a blood donation programme and Brahmakumaris tied ‘rakhis’ to District Collector S. Satyanarayana, Superintendent of Police B. Satya Yesu Babu and other officials on the dais.
