Andhra CM exempts 20k acres from Kolleru lake

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday announced exemption of 20,000 acres of land from the Kolleru Lake area reducing the lake extension from third contour to fifth contour, a long pending demand of the local farmers.
Naidu also promised to supply water to the Kolleru lake on regular basis from the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme, as the lake required fresh water.

Naidu, while holding a review meeting, accepted the request of the farmers of D Patta lands to the extent of 5,600 acres and others to the extent of 15,0000 acres to exempt them from the lake protection area.

The decision will now bring down the extent of the lake between contour 3 to contour 5 from the existing 78,000 acres to 58,000 acres.

Naidu also directed officials to develop the lake into a tourist place. He asked officials to take up restoration of the canals and drains leading to Kolleru and prepare them to receive Godavari river water through the Pattiseema project. He also directed them to construct regulators at Kottada and Chinnagollapalem to regulate flow of water into the lake and outside.