MUCHUMARRI (KURNOOL DT.):In a significant move aimed at benefiting unemployed persons, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday declared Amaravati, the State capital, a free zone for recruitment.
Mr. Naidu made the announcement at a public meeting after dedicating the Muchumarri lift irrigation scheme to the nation at Muchumarri in Pagidyala mandal and switching on two pumps to release 474 cusecs from the Handri Neeva project to KC Canal. The scheme was envisaged in 2007 to pump water from 798 feet in the Srisailam reservoir through the Muchumarri scheme to serve the needs of 49,440 acres of ayacut under KC Canal.
He promised to formulate an action plan to draw water from the Pothireddipadu head regulator at 854 feet level in Srisailam reservoir, 834 feet level at Malyala and from the Muchumarri scheme to cater to the needs of KC Canal, Srisailam Right Branch Canal and the Kundu river and drive away drought from Rayalaseema.
Water release to Pulivendula
The Chief Minister promised release of water from the Gandikota reservoir to the Chitravathi project in Pulivendula in Kadapa district on January 11. Vowing to transform Rayalaseema into “Ratnalaseema,” Mr. Naidu said four pumps in the Muchumarri scheme would be ready by March and 12 pumps would be operated at Malyala under the Handri Neeva project.
Steps would be taken to resolve the problem in securing 39 tmcft from the Tungabhadra dam for the benefit of four districts in Rayalaseema, he said. He promised constitution of a water grid. Polavaram was a lifeline for the State and Muchumarri for Rayalaseema. The first phase of the Polavaram project would be completed by 2018, he said.
Responding to a request by TDP in charge of Nandikotkur constituency Mandra Sivananda Reddy to provide permanent government jobs for kin of 300 families displaced by the Srisailam project, as done by Telangana government, Mr. Naidu promised to do justice to them. Stating that 1.87 lakh persons of 250 villages were displaced by the Polavaram project, Mr. Naidu said no government can provide jobs to all of them.
A.P. Legislative Council Chairman, Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy, Irrigation Minister D. Umamaheswara Rao, Nandyal MP SPY Reddy, and Nandyal MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy spoke.