Terming the Muchumarri Lift Irrigation scheme as the lifeline of the Rayalaseema region, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu switched on three pumps to release water to the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) approach canal at Muchumarri village in Pagidyala mandal of the district on Friday.
Lauding irrigation engineers for their relentless efforts to complete the lift irrigation scheme, he said facilities were created to draw water from the Srisailam reservoir at three different levels to irrigate lands and cater to the drinking water needs of the people and cattle.
Mr. Naidu inspected the pumphouse and offered ‘Jalasiriki Harati’ to the Krishna.
Stating that 16 pumps were arranged for the Muchumarri LI scheme for releasing water to the HNSS through 12 pumps and to the KC Canal through four pumps, he said water could be lifted from Muchumarri at a level of 798 feet in the Srisailam reservoir and supplied to any canal as per the requirement.
An action plan was being drawn to establish a link at Malyala to give water to the KC Canal and to the Gorakallu and Owk reservoirs and another link at Banakacherla cross regulator to supply water to Velugodu and Brahmamsagar.
The Galeru Nagari project would supply water to the Gandikota reservoir and Chitravati balancing reservoir. Stating that his government was completing all the irrigation projects, Mr. Naidu asserted that the Handri Neeva canal was being widened up to Madakasira.
Irrigation water was being supplied to Gorakallu, Owk and Veligallu reservoir, he said, and assured water supply to Alur, Dhone, and Pathikonda constituencies.
Compensation of ₹450 crore was paid to the displaced under the Gandikota reservoir. The owk tunnel would be completed in 10 days, he said.
Drip irrigation
Assuring to consider the Gundrevula project, Mr. Naidu said it was an inter-State project that would benefit Kurnool Parliamentary constituency.
SCs were being given 90% subsidy on drip irrigation and 70% to others, as water needed for one acre normally could be utilised to irrigate 2.50 acres, he said.
Administering a pledge on water conservation, he said Srisailam reservoir had 18.7 tmcft water last year. This season, it stood at 16.6 tmcft. There were no inflows in Narayanapur, Jurala, and Tungabhadra dams.
Funds sanctioned
He promised scholarship to students of the Budagajangam community, though a committee report was expected in six months.
Mr. Naidu announced sanction of funds for building a church at Muchumarri, ₹5 crore for a road from Nandikotkur to Brahmanakotkur, and 100 houses at Muchumarri and Nehrunagar. Mr. Naidu also promised disbursal of the third instalment of loan waiver this month.
He felicitated Chief Engineer Jalandhar, SE Narayanaswamy, and EE Reddy Sankar for completing the LI scheme. Mr. Naidu was felicitated with a “gajamala.”
Irrigation Minister D. Umamaheswara Rao, Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya, Nandyal MP S.P.Y. Reddy, MLC Md. Farooq, MLAs B. Jayanageswar Reddy, Mani Gandhi, and S. Aisaiah, Engineer-in-Chief Venkateswara Rao, district Collector S. Satyanarayana, and APIDC chairman K.E. Prabhakar took part.