Be cautious in spending money on projects: Jagan

Amaravati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the officials to be very cautious about the utilization of funds for the projects and to spend funds according to priority. He said all he works should give the desired results, at a review meeting on the water resource department held at his residence at Tadepalli in Guntur district on Monday.

The officials said that most of the Jala Yagnam scheme works were pending because of problems in land acquisition and forest clearance. They said such works would be given first preference. Jagan directed the officials to take up the works with a plan of action.

The officials of the department detailed to the Chief Minister about the present condition and the water levels in the reservoirs of Krishna, Godavari and Penna river basins.

The officials detailed about the district-wise works taken up in river-based projects in the state. The Chief Minister reviewed the implementation of the works in Polavaram, Velugonda, Vamsadhara and other new projects in the state. He questioned why despite the flooding of the rivers, some projects could not be filled so far. The Chief Minister sought details of the capacity of the canals and the pending works from the officials.

Jagan directed the officials to prepare an action plan for filling all the projects during floods in 40 days and to submit a detailed report on the issue with proposals made. He also sought estimates for the new projects to be proposed based on priority.

Alternative measures to fill Kalyani Dam and NTR Jalasayam near Tirupati came up for discussion at the review meeting. The officials said that while the total capacity at Gorakallu reservoir was 12.44 TMC feet, they could fill only up to 9 TMC feet so far and that they need forest department clearance to fill it to the full capacity.

Similarly, Avaku reservoir also needed forest clearance, and so far they could fill up to 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 of 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 action 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.

Jagan questioned the officials why only 2.62 TMC feet of water was 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