The Hindu : Minister hints at delay in Sagar water release

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Minister hints at delay in Sagar water release

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD June 21. The Minister for Major Irrigation, Kadiam Srihari, has hinted at possible delay in the release of water from Nagarjunasagar for the kharif season on account of low storages in the reservoir.

Mr. Srihari, who held a meeting with engineers at Nagarjunasagar on Friday, told reporters the present storage was 20 tmcft less than last year and the water level stood at 506 ft against the full level of 590 ft. It would be difficult to release water unless the level reached 511 ft. Water had to be used for power generation to meet critical agricultural load. Water release schedules would be announced after consulting ayacutdars and people's representatives.

He said repair works were on at 22 points on the left and right main canals at a cost of Rs 17 crores. Balance 20 works would be taken up later. The Chief Engineer, Nagarjunasagar project, Hanumantha Reddy, and the Superintending Engineer, Dam, N. Veeraswamy, held discussions with the Minister.

`No' to mini-hydel

power projects

Our Guntur Staff

Reporter writes:

Mr. Srihari has said that the Government will not permit any more mini-hydel power projects on irrigation canals.

Talking to reporters here today, the Minister said that the Government was receiving many applications from entrepreneurs for the setting up mini-hydel power projects on canals, rivulets, streams, etc. The pressure for permissions on irrigation canals was more. However, the Government's priority was to protect the irrigation sector. Therefore, the Cabinet sub-committee comprising the Ministers for Power, Major Irrigation and Industries, decided that no permissions should be given henceforth for the projects on canals, Mr. Srihari pointed out.

The Government sanctioned Rs. 33 crores for filling the breaches and effecting repairs to under-tunnels of the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal (NSRC) and the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal (NSLC). However, the Government provided only Rs 20 crores under this head in the budget. The remaining amount would be tied up from other funds, said Mr. Srihari.

The works were divided into 42 packages. The first 22 packages would be completed at a cost of Rs. 17 crores in the first phase before the end of the kharif season. The remaining works would be taken up subsequently. The plan of works had already been chalked out, he disclosed. The Minister suggested to the Irrigation Department that the works could be taken up even without administrative sanction, as the funds would be released as per the expenditure.

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Minister hints at delay in Sagar water release