VIZIANAGARAM: Vizianagaram district’s irrigation infrastructure is poised for a major revamp as the district administration has submitted proposals worth Rs 3,900 crore under the Union government’s Purvodaya scheme.
The projects slated for development include Thotapalli, Tarakarama Teertha Sagar, Gajapathinagaram Branch Canal, and Gadigedda-Champavathi Link, alongside the completion of the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi, which can irrigate 3.94 lakh acres in Vizianagaram and neighbouring districts in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The Purvodaya scheme is a comprehensive development initiative aimed at accelerating growth in India’s eastern region, covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The scheme focuses on enhancing infrastructure, promoting industrialisation, and improving human capital to transform these resource-rich states into a growth engine for a ‘Viksit Bharat.’
Agriculture is the backbone of Vizianagaram, with over 90% of the population dependent on farming. Most farmers rely on monsoon rains due to the lack of functional irrigation projects. Existing projects like Thotapalli and Tarakarama Teertha Sagar have suffered delays and poor maintenance, causing distress among farmers. The Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi, meant to provide irrigation and drinking water, remains an unfulfilled promise despite repeated commitments.
Since coming to power, the TDP-led NDA government under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has prioritised irrigation development in Vizianagaram and North Andhra. Proposals submitted include Rs 2,672 crore for completing the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi, Rs 263 crore for the Thotapalli right canal to stabilise 1.24 lakh acres, Rs 808 crore for pending works of Tarakarama Teertha Sagar covering 24,710 acres and drinking water supply, and Rs 218 crore for the Gajapathinagaram Branch Canal, which can irrigate 15,000 acres.
Speaking to TNIE, MSME, SERP, and NRI Empowerment Minister Kondapalli Srinivas said all pending irrigation works are expected to be completed within 18 months. He added that a comprehensive plan has been drafted to fast-track four major projects in the district with an estimated investment of Rs 1,300 crore, in addition to developing around 8,000 tanks under the VB-GRAM programme. “The Purvodaya scheme will be a significant step to strengthen the agricultural backbone of Vizianagaram,” he said.