Parties stage dharna in support of Kanthanapally Project

Warangal: Agitations by the leaders of different political parties were held across the district on Wednesday seeking speedy execution of Kanthanapally irrigation project on river Godavari. Protest rallies and road blockades at all the mandal head quarters in the district here held in a bid to bring pressure on the State Government. The agitation was spearheaded by Communist Party of India (Marxist) and supported by CPI, TDP, TRLD, YSRCP, BSP, Forward Bloc, Lok Satta. The protesting parties have demanded the Government to allocate Rs 5000 crores for the construction of Kanthanapally Irrigation Project and to initiate the process of calling tenders for the same.A The CPI leaders T Srinivasa Rao, M Kalidas, CPM leaders Ch Rangaiah, T Upplaiah, YSRCP leaders B Sudhir Reddy, Bojjapalli Rajaiah and others staged rasta-roko at Hanamkonda Chowrastha. The leaders appealed the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to see that funds be allocated in the state budget in ensuing Assembly session.A The project if completed would play a crucial role in improving the irrigation scenario in Warangal and neighbouring Khammam and Karimnagar districts. The Project would be useful to Devadula Lift Irrigation Project by making of water available at a level of 81 metres at the intake well every day. Both Sri Ram Sagar Project and Devadula lift irrigation project would be rendered useless if Kanthanapally project was not executed, they averred.