Andhra govt. launches 2nd phase of water conservation prog

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) : Andhra Pradesh Government has launched the second phase of water conservation program on Monday.

The program will last for 116 days that begins today and will continue till June 7, 2018. As part of this program; repairs for tanks, interlinking of tanks, de-silting streams, cleaning lakes and drains, construction of check dams and water pits, preservation of rainwater, forest bound water bodies, rock fill dams, farm ponds, measures to increase earthen water levels, recharging bore wells, measuring water levels and other water conservation and preservation methods will be taken care of.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the program by starting silt removal works of "Pala Vagu" drain.

State Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao, ministers Prattipati Pullarao, Nakka Anand Babu, Guntur MP Galla Jayadev, local MLA Sravan, Guntur district collector K Sasidhar and others participated in the program at Venkatapalem village in Amaravati capital region.

While addressing a gathering here, Naidu said, "Today we are starting 2nd phase of water conservation movement. Under this program, the government is taking all steps so that no single water drop is wasted. Since last two years, rainfall has been less than normal. But our efforts helped enormous growth in agriculture sector."

CM Naidu added, "Upward states are constructing dams on Krishna River, leading to problem for irrigation in Krishna river delta. We built Polavaram lift irrigation project, diverted Godavari water to Krishna delta. That saved crops in last three seasons. We will build farm ponds, check dams, rock fill dams etc."

He further said, "We are interlinking all rivers in the state. So that water deprived areas like Rayalaseema will also have no water problems. We are developing Amaravati as a blue green city."

"Funds should be used in convergence model. Water resources ministry will spend money for major projects, irrigation unions should have to take up minor projects," he added.