Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy would set the foundation for the Varikapudisela lift irrigation scheme in Palnadu district on Wednesday. The project would meet the irrigation and drinking water requirements of drought-hit Palandu district.
The region has been waiting for such an irrigation project ever since Independence. The project aims to lift water from the Varikapudisela stream before it merges into Krishna River, 40km upstream of the Nagarjunasagar.
Water resources minister Ambati Rambabu said the project costs Rs. 340.26 crore. The Chief Minister has obtained necessary clearances from the environment, forest and wildlife departments. This would reach drinking water to 5,000 families and irrigate 24,900 acres in Veldurthi, Uppalapadu, Gottipalla, Srigiripadu, Bodilaveedu, Gangalakunta and Kandlakunta villages.
The minister said the Varikapudisela lift irrigation scheme is a pioneer in the initiative for water supply through pipelines in Andhra Pradesh.
The state government's visionary initiatives herald a new era of prosperity for the drought-hit Palnadu region, he said, and added that the new Palnadu district was carved out “as part of our commitment to decentralise governance, take it closer to the people and uplift the backward areas.
He said the establishment of a government medical college in 47.53 acres at a cost of Rs. 500 crores in Piduguralla Mandal, the modernisation of 32 PHCs under Nadu-Nedu, the global spices processing facility coming up at a cost of Rs. 200 crore in Vankayalapadu village in Yadlapadu mandal and state-of-the-art horticultural production centre to leverage Indo-Israeli expertise in 26 acres at a cost of Rs.10.69 crores were the prime developmental initiatives of the YSRC government in Palnadu district.
The construction of the Pedakurapadu bridge and 6 other highways by the Roads and Buildings department at a cost of Rs.278.28 crore, the construction of 4 National Highways connecting Macherla to Dachepalli (NH 167D), the Nagarjuna Sagar to Devulapalli (NH 565), Vodarevu to Piduguralla (NH 167A) and Kondamodu to Perecherla (NH 167AG), for a total length of 220.61km at a cost of Rs.412.36 crore would change the ambience of Palnadu district.
Under Varikapudisela, a supply of 281 cusecs of water through 4 pumps is envisaged for Palanadu.
The government has obtained permissions from the national wildlife board as also the environment and forest departments to construct a pump house in the forest area.
