VIJAYAWADA:Two key ministers in the AP cabinet - Devineni Umamaheswara Rao (irrigation) and P Narayana (Municipal Administration) - on Monday celebrated the success of irrigation engineers in supplying water to 8.5 lakh acres in Nellore district during the last agriculture year using water management techniques though there was a dry spell in the district.
The two ministers, who reviewed irrigation works in Nellore district at Model Guest House here, felt happy that though Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs were almost dry and the district had 48 per cent deficit rainfall, engineers had done something which was very difficult, ensuring enough irrigation facility for the parched lands in the district.
Umamaheswara Rao asked the engineers to study methods which could be used to provide irrigation facility to unserved agriculture land with minimum expenditure. “If you come with proposals, the state government would release funds after listing them on priority basis. This will be in addition to Rs 350 crore allotted to Nellore district for irrigation works,” the minister said, adding that additional funds could be provided by re-appropriation of funds in the budget.
The Municipal Administration Minister asked the officials to ensure that water reaches the tailend areas in the rabi season as well in October. He said already 24 works estimated to cost Rs 409 crore had been identified for this purpose. They include Sangam reservoir (Rs 43 crore) and Nellore reservoir (Rs 23 crore) and wanted the Irrigation Department to clear them. He wanted provision of irrigation facility to at least 10.5 lakh acres this year. This apart, it has been decided to increase one lakh acres every year for supply of water for irrigation purpose.
According to Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will attend birth anniversary celebrations of Sir Arthur Cotton at Dowlaiswaram barrage near Rajahmundry on May 15. As many as 4,500 engineers will take part in the celebrations. The chief minister will announce incentives to engineers who work with a sense of dedication.
The Minister said that with same inspiration, the government will organise birth anniversaries of M Visvesvarayya, Dr KL Rao and Sivaramakrishna.