ITUKALAKOTA/ WEST GODAVARI: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday announced that the Pattiseema lift irrigation project across the river Godavari in West Godavari district would be inaugurated on August 15. The announcement comes at a time when the Telangana government approached the Central Water Commission (CWC) demanding submission of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Pattiseema project before the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) by its Andhra Pradesh counterpart.
Chandrababu Naidu told mediapersons here Thursday that the RS 1,300-crore lift irrigation project was aimed at diverting the flood waters of the Godavari river to Rayalaseema. He said that the works were going on on a war-footing at Pattiseema village. The foundation stone was laid on March 29 and the project is nearing completion. Once done, water would be released through the right canal marking the inauguration of the project.
For expediting and reviewing project’s progress, the chief minister scheduled three more visits to Pattiseema on July 1, 15 and 30. Closed-circuit cameras are being installed at the project site to enable the officials to monitor the works. Naidu said he would be monitoring the works from his residence on a regular basis for the speedy completion of the project.
Chandrababu promised that the Polavaram project would be completed in four years at any cost. He urged the farmers to cede their lands for the irrigation projects for greater good. “The Congress regime had destroyed the contract system which in turn delayed the execution of the irrigation projects. It was the Telugu Desam government that had streamlined execution of all the projects,” he said. Further, he added that the land acquisition cases which had been pending in the courts, would be disposed of soon as the government intends to sanction better compensation to the farmers under the Polavaram project.
On the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project across the Krishna in Telangana, Naidu declined comment for the moment. He said he had directed the officials to study the flood waters of the Ramileru, the Budameru, and other rivulets for diversion to Godavari right canal.