Date:17/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/17/stories/2008031757990300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR positively responds to plea for more lift irrigation schemes

G. Ravikiran

Switches on release of water from Vedadri-Kanchala scheme

The scheme will beneft 31 villages
It was executed at a cost of Rs. 17.43 cr.

VEDADRI (Krishna district): Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday promised to positively consider the plea of Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal and Jaggayyapeta MLA Samineni Udaya Bhanu for sanction of eight new lift irrigation schemes for villages falling in the Assembly segments of Jaggayyapeta and Nandigama.

The Chief Minister was addressing a meeting after switching on release of water from the second phase of Vedadri-Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme for 31 villages in the three mandals of Chandarlapadu, Nandigama and Jaggayyapeta. The scheme was executed at a cost of Rs.17.43 crores.

Dr. Reddy said that the Government was sympathetic towards farmers of the tail-end areas of Nagarjuna Sagar project area and upland areas of Krishna district.

He said the Congress Government had always been conscious of the needs and welfare of farmers. From the ensuing agricultural season, the Government would pay bonus to farmers at the rate of 8 per cent to 13 per cent of the amount for which they sell their produce in the market. Farmers would be provided loans for 3 per cent of rate of interest from the next year. The loan waiver scheme announced by the UPA Government would benefit farmers in the State to the tune of Rs.10,000 crores.

Hitting out at the TDP for “neglecting” farmers during its regime, the Chief Minister claimed that the Congress Hovernment had increased the minimum support price for paddy by Rs.160 during its four-year rule, while only Rs.90 was increased during the nine-year rule of Chandrababu Naidu.

Minister for Lift Irrigation Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu), Mr. Rajagopal and Mr. Udayabhanu also spoke.