kurnool: Irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao announced that the government would seriously work to stop Krishna river waters from merging into the sea and the surplus water diverted to drought affected areas of Rayalaseema region. Mr Umamaheswar Rao, as part of his visit from initial point of Handri Neeva Sujala Shranthi irrigation and drinking water project at Malayala towards to second phase, visited Malayala in Kurnool district on Thursday.
After reviewing the project with irrigation officials, the minister Mr Umamaheswar Rao opined that the Krishna water should not be released into the sea and every drop of surplus water would be used to irrigate drought hit Rayalaseema lands. The minister also announced that Malayala, initial point of HNSN project located on the backwaters of Srisailam reservoir, as a tourist spot using all available sources.
Mr Rao assured to release drinking water to KC Canal from HNSN project canal through two pipelines. During a review meeting at Kurnool, the irrigation minister assured to take up all pending projects on a war footing. “Two phases of Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi project will be completed soon to irrigate tail end areas,” he said. Briefing about the Pulichintala project, he said chief secretaries of both states were asked to find a positive solution. The reservoir will be filled with storage of 11 TMC ft.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is said to be keen to pay an attractive compensation package to farmers losing their land in acquisition. Nandyal MP S.P.Y. Reddy and other leaders from Kurnool district made a representation to the minister to improve irrigation facilities with assured allocation of water.
