Tadepalli: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the Water Resources department officials to judiciously use the funds for irrigation projects based on priority of the project. In a review meeting with the officials of the Irrigation and Water Resources department on Monday, the Chief Minister discussed the status of various projects including Polavaram, Veligonda and Vamsadhara and the proposed new ones. The officials prepared a report about the various projects, the water levels in the reservoirs in the Godavari, Penna Basins in the districts & submitted them to him.

He questioned the officials as to why some projects were not filled despite heavy rains and floods in the State. He directed them to take necessary steps and frame an action plan to ensure that they are filled in the next 40 days. He sought information from the authorities on the capacity of the canals and the pending works. He also said that a report has to be submitted about the new projects that have to be taken up in the future along with the estimations and costs.

Due to land acquisition and forest clearance issues, many of the Jalayagnam projects were pending and he directed the officials that they should be given first priority and work towards a strategy to complete these projects successfully.Minister for Irrigation and Water Resources Anil Kumar Yadav was also present in the meeting along with Irrigation Secretary and other officials.

Similarly, Avaku reservoir also needed forest clearance, and so far they could fill upto 3.3 TMC feet of water while it has a capacity of 4.15 TMC feet. The Chief Minister directed the officials to take immediate measures to solve the problem. The officials said that the embankment of Alaganur reservoir would be repaired by November.

While the officials said that 5,000 cusecs o water had to be released from Telugu Ganga project to SPVB reservoir in Kadapa, only 1300 to 2000 cusecs was being released, the Chief Minister asked them to prepare an avtion plan to mitigate the problem. He also directed the officials to complete the R@R works in Velugonda, Gandikota and CBR projects and fill them to the brink.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy questioned the officials why only 2.62 TMC feet of was water being released to PAB reservoir while 11.10 TMC feet of water had to be released to it. IN reply the officials said that the problem was because of seepage and it will be rectified immediately.

The officials said that water had to be supplemented through Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanti for which the Chief Minister sought proposals for the purpose. He also directed the officials to supply water from Handri-Neeva project to Bhairavanitippa and to complete Tungabhadra canal modernization works.

Also See: Pictures| AP CM YS Jagan Review Meeting With Irrigation Dept Officials