Nagavali water was released from Thotapalli project after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched its first phase on September 11. But, water is yet to reach the crop fields in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram district owing to the inordinate delay in the commencement of the works of its distributory channels.
Though the officials cite land acquisition as the major obstacles for the works to take off, fingers are being pointed to the poor coordination between Irrigation and revenue officials, who have resorted to blame game. The project envisages catering to the irrigation needs of ayacut in 1.24 lakh acres in 10 mandals of Vizianagaram district and seven in Srikakulam and a 117-km long canal has been planned take the waters to the backward regions in both the district to stabilise cultivation there.
The Chief Minister after dedicating the project instructed the officials to complete the distributory channel works at the earliest, mentioning that around Rs. 49 crore had been released for the land acquisition. According to sources, officials did not have coordination at the ground level, leading to delay in acquisition of land.
Distributory channel work yet to begin owing
to delay in
land acquisition
Land owners demanding
Rs. 20 lakh per acre compared to the govt’s offer of
Rs. 5 lakh per acre
