Naidu asks officials to complete AP irrigation projects early

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today directed the irrigation department to work for the early completion of several projects, including Thotapalli, Vamsadhara, Handri-Neeva and Galeru-Nagari projects.
Naidu held a review meeting with Irrigation Minister D Umamaheswara Rao and senior officials of the department here today, a government release said.
The Chief Minister also issued instructions to expedite works of pending irrigation projects in the state and clear bottlenecks.
Phase 1 of the Vamsadhara project in Srikakulam district has been completed and Phase 2, which is in progress would irrigate 45,000 acres, the release said.
The first phase of the Thotapalli project would cover 1.2 lakh acres and the Chief Minister directed officials to operationalise it by next year.

Forest clearance is pending for the Veligonda project and Naidu asked officials to complete it by December, 2016, the release said.

The Chief Minister told officials to explore the possibility of making water from the Handri-Neeva project available to Chittoor. However, officials said the water could be made available to Madanapally in the district, the release said.
On Galeru-Nagari irrigation project, the Chief Minister suggested that the water be provided till Gandikota.
Naidu also discussed the issue of linking Godavari river with the Krishna Delta (in Guntur and Krishna districts).
The Chief Minister was informed by officials that the lift irrigation project to lift (flood) water from Godavari would cost Rs 1,272 crore.