Highlighting the need for streamlining the economic inequalities, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said special focus was put on the welfare of farmers and completion of pending irrigation projects by the TDP government.
Mr. Naidu formally inaugurated the second phase of the ₹1,700-crore Purushothapatnam Lift Irrigation programme at Jaggampeta, and had a brief interaction with the farmers there.
Stating that the Polavaram project was already completed by 64%, the Chief Minister said excess water from the Godavari was being diverted to the Krishna delta successfully through the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project.
“The Purushothapatnam project enables diversion of the Godavari water to the north Andhra region up to Itchapuram,” he said, adding that a good number of minor irrigation projects were in progress in the State.
Farm loan waiver
Referring to the farmers, Mr. Naidu said the State government successfully fulfilled its promise of farm loan waiver and the beneficiaries were happy with the move.
“This is the first-of-its-kind waiver that benefited a large number of farmers in the State,” he said.
Mr. Naidu further said that crop loans were being extended to the tenant farmers and a sum of ₹855 crore was being disbursed to over 2.4 lakh tenant farmers through different banks.
Housing sanctioned
Reacting to a plea from Jaggampeta MLA Jyothula Nehru that housing should be provided to the evacuees of Yeleru right canal, Mr. Naidu announced that G+3 houses would be provided to 4,600 evacuee families in an extent of 39 acres identified by the officials.
He also sanctioned a park with an expected outlay of ₹50 lakh in the town.