VIJAYAWADA: The state government’s allocated of just Rs 120.14 crore for Krishna delta modernisation in the budget has left officials deeply disappointed. The irrigation officials were expecting the state government to match at least the Rs 300 crore allotted in the last budget. The modernisation works had been initiated at a cost of Rs 4,300 crore in 2008, but only 25 per cent of the work has been completed so far. The delay in completion of the project has cost the state, especially the farmers dear, as the government was forced to announce two crop holidays during the last two rabi season, a loss of nearly Rs 2,000 crore in income.
The government had taken up the project to stabilise the Krishna delta ayacut in the limits of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and West Godavari districts. The project envisaged strengthening or rebuilding several canals, locks and bridges that were constructed decades ago, most of them during the British rule.
What is even more shocking for the farmers is the fact that the funds allotted was meagre despite irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao hailing from the district. Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samiti leader K. Sivaji said that the funds allotted by the government were very nominal and the irrigation department has also failed to implement the project. Krishna district deputy superintending engineer D. Ramakrishna said that the project works will be executed in phases, as per allocations. He said that the tenure of the work will have to be revised.
