AP CM inaugurates Thotapalli 12 years after laying stone

Vizianagaram: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday dedicated the Thotapalli irrigation project constructed on river Nagavali to the nation. The CM inaugurated the project and released water to 50,000 acres. The project has a command area of 1.32 lakh acres. The 117-km Thotapalli left canal would irrigate thousands of acres in Srikakulam district.

Naidu, who had laid the foundation for the project on November 6, 2003, inaugurated the project after 12 years by releasing water from Thotapalli irrigation project at Vullibhadra area of Garugubilli mandal in Vizianagaram district. Thousands of farmers attended the programme and expressed their pleasure over the programme.

The CM named the project after the freedom fighter in Srikakulam district Gouthu Latchanna. Addressing a large gathering of farmers at a public meeting later, Naidu said, “I never forget this day as I laid the foundation stone for the Thotapalli project on my wedding anniversary (September 10) in 2003.”

The Thotapalli project was the first project completed by TDP after it came to power and the project was envisaged on river Nagavali in 2003 to irrigate an additional ayacut of 1.35 lakh acres besides stabilising the existing ayacut of 65,000 acres.

Blaming Congress for delay in completion of the Thotapalli project, Naidu said that the estimated project cost was Rs 450 crore in 2003 and it was to be completed in two years. But, due to corrupt Congress leaders, the project was completed after 12 years at a cost of Rs 775 crore.

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