State geared up to allocate funds for irrigation projects on priority basis, says Deputy CM  

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has asserted that the State government is geared up to allocate funds to pending irrigation projects on the basis of priority so as to complete them in a time bound manner.

The Deputy Chief Minister directed the Irrigation Department officials to consider Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) as a priority issue on the government’s agenda as also the setting up of the fifth pump for the Aliminenti Madhava Reddy project. Officials should conduct an elaborate study and speed up works on the Sitarama project proposed in the erstwhile united Khammam district envisaging filling up of Palair reservoir with Godavari waters, he said.

Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka, accompanied by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, held a pre-budget meeting with Irrigation and Civil Supplies department officials on Monday. He wanted the officials to complete canal works under the Godavari river from Basvapur to Singur and Vattem to Edula canals, besides focusing attention on the works of the Dindi lift irrigation project that are in final stages of completion.

The Ministers directed the officials to emphasise land acquisition under different projects, maintenance of the existing projects and capital works in the next financial year. Modernisation of the existing irrigation projects along with the lining of canals would significantly enhance the lifetime of the projects, besides facilitating efficient use of water, they said.

In this context, they said that adequate care should be taken about the operation and maintenance of major projects in the State which the previous BRS government neglected as the focus was only on the Kaleshwaram project. While the concentration should be on safeguarding the existing projects, officials should focus on exploring the areas through which adequate funds could be secured from the Central government, they said.

The Ministers suggested that the department could consider setting up an exclusive legal team for resolving land-related disputes pertaining to irrigation projects. At the same time, they should take up work for carrying out repairs to gates of the medium and minor irrigation projects and strengthening the canal network.