First tunnel works will be completed by June 2020: Anil Kumar Yadav

Markapuram: Irrigation Minister P Anil Kumar Yadav on Saturday revealed that the government had saved Rs 62 crore to by reverse tendering for the Veligonda project works. He along with the Minister for Education A Suresh, Minister for Energy, Environment, Forests, Science and Technology Balineni Srinivasa Reddy visited the Veligonda project and interacted with the district and project officials on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference, Anil Kumar said he would bring the issue of enhancing the rehabilitation and resettlement package for the oustees of project to the notice of Chief Minister. He expressed the hope that a decision to this effect would be taken to help the outstees. The State government is planning to relocate over 4,600 families from the affected villages to new colonies.

The Minister said the Veligonda project oustees had suffered because the previous government had neglected relief and rehabilitation package for them. The Chief Minister is now focusing his attention on rehabilitation package for the oustees.

The Chief Minister has directed the engineers to complete the project that was started as part of the Jalayagnam by YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The first tunnel works would be completed by June 2020 and 10.6 tmcft of water through the first tunnel by July, he said.

The Minister said the government is giving top priority to complete Polavaram and Veligonda projects. Efforts are made to start the works on the second tunnel in next 15 days. The people are expressing their happiness over the measures being taken by the government.

District Collector Pola Bhaskara, Joint Collector S Shanmohan, Kanigiri MLA Burra Madhusudan Yadav andMarkapuram MLA Kunduru Nagarjuna Reddy, Land Acquisition Special Collector G Gangadhar Goud, Irrigation Chief Engineer K Jalandhar, Superintending Engeer N Nagesh, Megha Constructions in-charge Srinath Reddy and others also participated in the programme.