District Collector K. Sasidhar said on Sunday that efforts are in progress to irrigate 60,000 acres of ayacut under Telugu Ganga project in Rabi season in Kadapa district if adequate water is released from Srisailam reservoir.
In his Republic Day message after hoisting the Tricolour at the Police Parade Grounds here, he said efforts are on to irrigate 3,000 acres under Vamikonda reservoir under Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi and 5,000 acres through Gandikota lift-irrigation scheme. The Government spent Rs. 4,360 crore out of Rs. 5,967 crore sanctioned for works on Telugu Ganga, GNSS, Gandikota-Chitravathi balancing reservoir lift-irrigation schemes and modernisation of Pulivendula branch canal and Mylavaram reservoir, he said.
The Government is striving to ensure farmers’ welfare by supplying seed, fertilizer and input subsidy and grant of crop loans, he said. Farmers raised crops in 1.59 lakh acres in kharif season and 1.74 lakh hectares in rabi season, he added. Free power is being given to 1.26 lakh agricultural pump-sets in the district.
Crop loans to the tune of 1,668 crore were disbursed in Kadapa district this current financial year and 59,364 farmers losing crops were sanctioned compensation of Rs. 52.51 crore, he said. Bank loans of Rs. 353 crore were disbursed to women groups in the urban and rural areas, out of a target of Rs. 487 crore, the Collector said.
The district administration is conducting ‘Palle Pilupu’ programme every Thursday to gauge the services extended in terms of 18 aspects and implementation of Government schemes. He explained the progress achieved through all the Government departments in the district. Nearly 30,000 Government employees participated in recent sports and games competitions.
The Collector felicitated freedom-fighters with shawls and garlands. He gave away assets worth Rs. 32 crore to 12,472 beneficiaries. Mr. Sasidhar presented merit certificates to officials and employees of 60 departments in the district. Students of Government girls, ZP and municipal high schools, Pushpagiri, Montfort, Saibaba, Kesava Reddy and St. Joseph’s high schools and YSR sports school performed dances to patriotic songs.
SP G.V.G. Ashok Kumar, Joint Collector K. Nirmala, OSD (Administration) T. Chandrasekhar Reddy, Trainee Assistant Collector Prasanna Venkatesh, District Grandhalaya Sanstha chairman Ramakoti Reddy, District Peace Corps secretary K. Rajarathnam Isaac and members Naganjaneya Sarma, S. Salauddin, officers and employees participated.
