Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said that it has been decided to release the schedule for the Polavaram project work. He said that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will visit Polavaram project in the second week of this month and he will release the project work schedule there.
Chandrababu reviewed the Polavaram project, Handriniva as well as irrigation projects and water policies. Recalling that Polavaram work is being resumed after a five-year destructive rule, Nimmala said that the CM has ordered that the work should be done as per the schedule.
The Minister said that the CM has instructed to take up the Polavaram work without wasting a single moment. He clarified that the diaphragm wall work will be taken up in January. He said that the Polavaram rehabilitation work will also be taken up soon. He said that the construction of R&R colonies and land acquisition will be resumed.
He said that the inter-state issues will be resolved and Polavaram will be completed on time. Minister Nimmala revealed that Godavari waters will be taken to Northern Andhra and Rayalaseema.
He said that the lining and winding works will be started soon to increase the capacity of the Handri Neeva canal to provide irrigation and drinking water to Rayalaseema. The minister lamented that the previous government had destroyed the Chintalapudi lift irrigation scheme that irrigates the left canal of Nagarjuna Sagar.
He said that the Veligonda project is the lifeline of the most backward Prakasam district, and if a person like Chandrababu works, it will take another two years to complete Veligonda. He said that even if it is Jagan or Ambati Rambabu, it is impossible to say when it will be completed.
Minister Nimmala said that the CM has instructed to prepare a schedule for completing Veligonda. He said that the CM has ordered a water policy in view of future needs and the goal is to formulate a water policy that captures every drop of water and irrigates every acre. The minister revealed that the CM has ordered to undertake the Godavari- Penna- Banakacharla project.
