Rs 3,200 crore to be spent to rehabilitate displaced tribals

Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said here on Thursday that Rs 3,200 crore would be spent to rehabilitate tribals displaced by the Polavaram irrigation project.

He told reporters that rehabilitation of tribals would be undertaken and their sentiments would be respected.

He said that since the Polavaram irrigation project has received top priority from the Andhra Pradesh state government, it would be completed in three years.

He said that a white paper would be released on the present status of the state's irrigation sector and a detailed project report would be finalised in 100 days.

Utmost care would be taken to maintain canals to supply irrigation and drinking water even to remote villages, he said.

Talking about water supply from Nagarjunasagar Dam to Krishna delta, he said that both states (AP and Telangana) had an understanding with the Governor to release 10 tmc of water for Krishna delta.

As per the understanding, the Central Water Commission has also issued orders to release water from Nagarjunasagar Dam, he said. He said that water released from Nagarjunasagar Dam would be utilised only for drinking purposes in Krishna delta region and not for agriculture or other purposes.