Date:13/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/13/stories/2007071352080300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Land acquisition delays project works

Correspondent

369 acres to be acquired for Jhanjhavathi
Minister tells Collector to expedite works

VIZANAGARAM: The delay in acquiring land is the main reason for the slow pace of work on various irrigation projects. This was the opinion expressed by irrigation officials and executing agencies at the review meeting on irrigation projects here on Thursday.

Minister for Housing B. Satyanarayana, Secretary (Projects) S. Bhattacharya, Members-committee (irrigation) B. Rosaiah and I.S.N. Raju and Irrigation Chief Engineer (North Andhra districts) Ch. Prasada Rao, MLAs P. Narayanaswamy Naidu and K. Veerabhadra Swamy were present.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy inaugurated the rubber dam of Jhanjhavathi on January 1 last year. But this was not completed so far due to delay in acquisition of 369 acres of land. Minister Satyanarayana asked the Irrigation engineers concerned to complete Jhanjhavati by December 31 and Peddagedda by August 31 in all respects. Similar was the problem in case of Thotapalli, Tarakarama Theertha Sagar and VRS extension channel. The Minister asked the Collector to complete the land acquisition and speed up work as the Chief Minister was keen on completing the projects in time.

On the apprehension over deviation in original alignment of Thotapalli right main canal (RMC) from 97 km to 117 km, the Minister heard the viewpoint of former Chief Engineer (irrigation) and project designer Rowthu Satyanarayana, who said the deviations being made in alignment would deprive irrigation facilities to 8800 acres and also deprive enhancement of additional ayacut of 22,000 acres apart from drinking water facility to several villages. The Minister wanted changes to ensure water to the tail-end acre.