The irrigation officials have prepared an action plan to complete 40 per cent of the Krishna delta modernisation work during the present crop holiday period. As part of the work, the canals will remain closed till June 30.

The officials are planning to improve the carrying capacity of Ryves canal to the present 3,500 cusecs to 5,500 cusecs of water. Likewise, the Lower Pulleru would be modernised to improve the carrying capacity to 1,000 cusecs. The officials are constructing a head regulator in place of the existing century-old head regulator downstream of Bandar main canal.

The irrigation officials are confident of completing the structure of the head regulator by the end of June till the canals will be closed. The balance mechanical work will be completed later by using the existing head regulator. The officials expressed hope that major portion of the head regulator would be completed within six months.

Speaking to this newspaper, superintending engineer of irrigation, Mr P.V.S.M.S. Sai, said that design and project experts of other divisions were summoned to complete the modernisation work as per the action plan.

The officials will be on deputation to the Vijaya-wada division till the completion of the work in the present crop holiday period. He said once the main canal work is completed water would reach tail-end areas.

In Krishna eastern division the work was taken up in 2008 and they were divided into 10 packages with an estimated value of ` 806.47 crore.

Out of them, nine packages were entrusted to agencies to an agreement value of Rs.698.41 crore and works are under progress.

The Upper Pulleru and Lower Pulleru canal work was sub-divided into three small packages and are in tender process.