Date:31/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/31/stories/2005103104550300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Plans to tap river water for Anantapur

Staff Reporter

Centre's nod awaited for drinking water project

Project cost has shot up from Rs. 250 to Rs. 360 crores

PABR water to be given to the Satya Sai water supply schemes

ANANTAPUR: Minister for Panchayat Raj and Endowments J.C. Diwakar Reddy, has said that their Government was planning to provide drinking water facility to the entire Anantapur district with river water, minimising the dependency on groundwater (borewells) in the future.

Pipeline project

Talking to newspersons here on Saturday Mr. Diwakar Reddy said the drinking water pipeline project to the southern parts in the district, water scarcity areas in Madakasira, Penukonda, Hindupur, Gorantla and Dharmavaram constituencies was pending clearance with the Central Government.

Scarcity areas

The project cost had now gone up from Rs. 250 to Rs. 360 crores, he said. Once the project gets clearance the scarcity areas in the five constituencies would get Tungabhadra (HLC) water for drinking through Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir , the Minister said. If, necessary the PABR water would also be given to Satya Sai water supply schemes, he assured.