TIRUPATI: Here is good news for farmers of the western part of Chittoor district as a comprehensive water project for the area will become a reality soon, which is a centuries-old dream.
Engineers are contemplating bringing water to Punganur by January as they have sufficient water in Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS). Technically speaking, excluding distribution channels, 95 per cent of the prestigious HNSS project work has been completed. As of today, `2,100 crore work out of the total `2,700 crore has been completed in Chittoor district. Because of these completed work, sufficient water could be stored in the canals due to recent heavy rains. “As many as 105 small and medium structures have to be constructed and the work is in progress,” said HNSS Chief Engineer Muralinath Reddy. “Apart from these ongoing structure works, there are plans to release HNSS water up to Punganur by early next year,” he said.
In the total HNSS project, the 127-km Kuppam branch canal works have issues as contractors are demanding more money and stopped the work since some weeks. Out of the total work worth `430 crore, `310-crore work has been completed so far. Out of 7.5 km stretch, work pertaining to 4.3 km is pending due to land acquisition issues.