Date:10/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/10/stories/2008031053950400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Sonia to release lift irrigation scheme water

B.V.S. Bhaskar

Purushothapatnam (East Godavari): UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will release water to 63,000 acres through Thota Venkatachalam Pushkara Lift Irrigation Scheme on March 14.

The trial run was successfully completed on Saturday and Sunday morning.

With this, farmers of 136 villages in 14 mandals of East Godavari district can irrigate their land from this kharif season itself .

The construction works of three lifts, two pump houses, 96 km. canal works by the side of Akhanda Godavari near Purushothapatnam village in Seethanagaram mandal, is complete.

Superintendent Engineer D. Ravindra Babu and EE P.V. Poornachandra Rao explained the technical details of the project.

Under Puskhara Lift Irrigation Scheme, 1.85 lakh acres in 139 villages of 14 mandals will be irrigated.

Also drinking water facility will be extended to 5 lakh people.