Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said his Government will work for the interlinking of rivers of Krishna, Godavari and Penna to make the State completely drought free. He was speaking after laying foundation stone of Pattiseema lift irrigation project in West Godavari district on Sunday, which seeks to interlink Godavari and Krishna to divert surplus waters of Godavari to Krishna basin.
Speaking on the occasion he said that interlinking of rivers will put an end to the problem of drought inAndhra Pradesh. “Every year more than 3,000 tmc ft of water of Godavari is going waste in to the sea. Even if we are able to utilize 1,000 tmcft, Andhra Pradesh will never face drought,” he said. Pattiseema lift irrigation envisages diverting 80 tmcft of water from Godavari to Krishna for irrigation and supplying of water to Rayalseema. Naidu announced payment of additional Rs20,000 per acre to the farmers who lose their lands to Pattiseema.
“Plans are ready to complete the Rs,1300 crore project in a year’s time”, Naidu said. lashing out at the previous Congress Government for neglecting the irrigation projects of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said his Government is committed to complete the Polavaram project in four years. “with the completion of Polavaram project, ever acre of land in AP will get water for irrigation,” he said. Thanking the people of West Godavari district for their support in elections, he said Pattiseema project was a thanksgiving. He also announced setting up marine university in the district.