LI schemes create row among farmers

Srikakulam: The farmers in Srikakulam district are strongly opposing the State government’s move to construct three lift irrigation schemes in Vizianagaram district. They allege water will be diverted to these lift schemes from Thotapalli project canals and the project located on Nagavali river in Garugubelli mandal of Vizianagaram district. The project left main canal (LMC) was designed to irrigate 31,700 acres lands in Garugubelli, Giyyammavalasa mandals of Vizianagaram and

Veeragattam, Palakonda and Burja mandals on Srikakulam district. As part of modernisation, ayucut area has been enhanced to 64,000 acres in five mandals in two districts. Due to lack of improvement of canals, water discharge capacity was also not covered in 64,000 acres.

At this juncture, irrigation officials and leaders of Vizianagaram district proposed three lift irrigation schemes on the canals and government also issued GO No 164 dated February 25. The total estimated cost of the lift irrigation schemes is Rs 47 crore and they will cover 8,000 acres of lands in Garugubelli and Giyyammavalasa mandals of Vizianagaram district.

On learning about it, farmers of Palakonda, Veeragattam and Burja mandals strongly opposed the lift schemes under the aegis of Thotapalli project modernisation achievement committee (TPMAC). Farmers and TPMAC president and general secretary Chebodula Laxminarayana and Budithi Appal Naidu, members V Sumanth Naidu, V Ramana Murthy, K Visweswar Rao, K Rammurthy Naidu and K Dhanunjaya burnt the GO copies of lift schemes at Palakonda on Thursday night. They warned to intensify their agitation till the government cancels lift irrigation schemes in Vizianagaram district.