Delay in Udayasamudram works dampening ryots’ hopes

Nalgonda: Lakhs of farmers have been looking forward to the Udayasamudram Lift Irrigation Project, the works of which were launched on September 4, 2007 by the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Costing Rs 562 crore, it was to be completed in 2012. However, not even 50 per cent of works have been done in the last nine years.

The works going on at a snail’s pace stand example for officials’ apathy. The works are linked to the Aleminati Madhav Reddy Project (AMRP) and supply drinking water through a lift scheme to Udayasamudram (reservoir capacity 1.5 tmcft) near Nalgonda. The water from Udayasamudram was to be lifted to the Brahmanavella reservoir thought a lift scheme. The work includes building a 7 km approach channel and a 10.5 km tunnel.

The project, which is intended to irrigate 1 lakh acres (53,000 acres from the right canal and 47,000 from the left canal) in drought-hit areas in Munugode and Nakrekal constituencies, is now likely to take three more years to take a final shape.The delay in the project work is attributed land acquisition where only 50 per cent was completed. As against the requirement of 3,500 acres, till date 1,000 acres have been acquired.

No land for the two canals (which require 400 acres) is in the government’s holding, although surveys are being done. So far, 3 km of lining work of the tunnel as also the pump house near Choudampalli village, from which water to be lifted to the reservoir, are completed.This delay of nearly a decade is causing severe anxiety among farmers. It reflects the indifferent attitude of the ruling government, they told The Hans India.