Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao today chided the officials concerned for not using pipes, pump-sets and other equipment for lifting waters of integrated Rajiv Sagar Dummugudem and Indira Sagar in Khammam district.
Along with Roads & Buildings Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao, Harish Rao held a review meeting on irrigation projects in Khammam district, lift irrigation and Mission Kakatiya scheme with officials and Vapcose officials here.
Stating that the material worth Rs 425 crore were lying untouched at the sites, he asked them to send proposals immediately by making necessary design changes. He said that in another meeting with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on December 28, a final call will be taken on the projects, he said. Harish also directed the officials concerned to release Rs 55 crore for 17 lifts for Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) left canal, sanction Rs 20 crore for tenders for 57 lifts under Tribal Sub-Plan and obtain approval from nodal agency for NSP lifts. For 851 lakes under Mission Kakatiya, Rs 240 crore were sanctioned and works would be expedited.
Harish Rao asked the officials to complete the phase-I works on a war-footing and send proposals for the remaining works under Phase-II as 386 estimates were completed so far. The minister also ordered steps to conduct a joint survey by coordinating with Andhra Pradesh officials for submerging lifts of Pulichintala project lift, construct spillway gates of Palem lake by March end to provide waters to 10200 acres and find 180 acres forest land alternative for Medikunta lake and take up lift works connecting Paler reservoir and Madirapuram and call tenders by Dec 22. (NSS)