KAKINADA: Fulfilling the dream of the people of East Godavari district, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday commissioned Purushottapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS) which is designed to draw water from the Godavari and take it to Yeleru reservoir.
The CM after offering prayers to the river, switched on the motors which had been set up at the project site. The two pumps that were used were part of Handri Neeva Project. When the regular pumps arrive, these pumps will be sent back to the Handri Neeva project.
The project was executed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) in a record time of 225 days. Later addressing a public meeting at Jaggampet, Naidu gave a graphic account of his efforts in ensuring water security in the entire State, particularly in the twin Godavari, Krishna and Rayalaseema districts.
“PLIS on the Godavari is taking water to Krishna river through Polavaram Right Main Canal, providing irrigation facility to 13 lakh acres of land. Already, we have diverted 33 tmcft water from Godavari to Krishna,” Naidu said.He said Godavari water through Pattiseema to Krishna delta will help in saving that much volume of water at Srisailam which could be used to irrigating drought-affected parts in Rayalaseema region. “Some forces had tried to do their best in derailing the project by performing poojas, provoking farmers against giving their land for the project and moving courts. But, I went ahead with determination and today I am happy that I could commission the project,” Naidu said.
“I want to complete the irrigation projects within one year. This apart, I want to complete Polavaram project, come what may. Polavaram is the lifeline of the State. That is why I am working day and night for its early completion. I will give water by gravity by 2018 and am making efforts to complete it by 2019,” CM said.
Kapu quota
Naidu said he did not forget the issue relating to according BC status to Kapus.
As the project has come up in East Godavari district, which is kapu heartland, Naidu, also keeping Kakinada Municipal Corporation on August 29 in mind said: “I am more concerned about the well being of Kapus. The TDP government, for the first time created a Kapu Welfare Corporation and allocated `1,000 crore for Kapu youths to set up self-employment units,” he said.
Naidu said that he would ensure that Kapus would get BC status and sought to dispel the notion among the BCs that the BC status would cut into their political reservations too. “Kapus only want reservations in education and employment,” he said.