Date:25/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/25/stories/2005042501471300.htm

Back `Work on Pulichintala to start in two months'

Our Bureau

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, climbing down a slope after inspecting a summer storage tank at Gudivada in Krishna district on Sunday. — Raju V.

Vijayawada , April 24

THE State Government will obtain all the necessary clearances for the Pulichintala balancing reservoir project on the Krishna, crucial for the stabilisation of the delta, within two months and work will begin soon afterwards, according to the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

He told presspersons during his tour of Krishna district on Sunday that the project had been pending for a long time and after the recent laying of the foundation stone work had been stalled again, as the Government had gone to court and the High Court directed that the environmental clearance be obtained.

"We will get all the clearances within two months and start work on it. We will complete it and protect the century-old delta," he said.

The Chief Minister said the modernisation of the Krishna delta — comprising 12 lakh acres in the four districts of Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam — would be taken up next year.

He accused the previous Telugu Desam Government of completely neglecting the farm sector and irrigation in particular. "We have drawn up ambitious plans to complete irrigation projects worth Rs 46,000 crore during next four years and we will make all attempts to mobilise the requisite resources and complete them on time," he added.