Water released to Vempalli in Pulivendula constituency

Kadapa:   As per the orders of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, State government speeds up works on the pending irrigation works in Pulivendula Assembly constituency. As part of this initiative, former MLC and deputy chairman of Legislative Council VS Satish Reddy, on Saturday, released water from Kamasamudram Tank to Vempalli village for agriculture operations. According to official sources, presently 6 tmcft of water is available in Gandikota reservoir, and 1.5 tmcft in Paidipalem reservoir which is connected to Pulivendula main canal.  

Gandikota project which is internal part of Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (GNSS) designed with the storage capacity of  about 30 tmcft  for the  purpose of providing water for agriculture activities and for drinking water needs all over the district was started in 2009. The ayacut under the scheme includes about 2lakh acres in Pulivendula constituency.  Of this quantum of storage, 8.3 tmcft of water should be supplied to Chitravati Balancing Reservoir (CBR), 6tmcft to  Basi Reddy reservoir,  3.3tmcft for Sarvarayasagar and 13 tmcft for Vamikonda. However, there was no progress in project works after the death of the then chief minister Rajasekhar Reddy due to various reasons. As a result water storage was limited only to 3 tmc ft.  

After the TDP voted to power in 2014 elections, Chandrababu Naidu has given top priority for completion of Gandikota reservoir to protect the interests of Pulivendula farmers. As part of this initiative TDP government increased its capacity up 4.5tmcft vacating 22 villages by allocating  Rs 430crores compensation to the displaced farmers. On 11th January 2017, Chandrababu Naidu released the water to Pulivendula constituency and  right now water is being supplied about 50,000 acres in both kharif and rabi seasons.

An official said that the government is keen on completing the pending canal works in Pulivendula constituency  to provide water for 2 lakh acres ayacut  in Pulivendula constituency in a phased manner. Government is prepared to spend another Rs 230crores for land acquisition which will be taken up very soon.