Andhra Pradesh: No Funds for Irrigation Works Except Weed Removal

 Kakinada: The Andhra Pradesh government has not released funds for irrigation projects in Godavari districts under the Dowleswaram irrigation circle this summer, except for weed removal and shutter repair works.

The MLAs, MPs, MLCs and ministers normally request six months before the summer year to release funds for irrigation projects in their respective regions, so as to help the farmers, strengthen the canals. Once this is done, the authorities can float tenders and complete the works by the end of summer.

As the government has not released the funds, the work is in the proposal stage. Officials submit proposals for several works, but these are kept aside at the highest level, without releasing the funds. Proposals for works worth nearly Rs 1500 crore are pending with the government.

So far, the government sanctioned Rs 35.5 crore for 877 works, out of which 316 works were for shutter replacements and desiltation and 500 works for removal of weed in the canals. Weed removal works are taken up by water distributor associations and farmer related sanghams on nomination basis.

According to sources, the irrigation department identified 50 vulnerable points under the Godavari delta. Whenever Godavari receives floods, the people as well as the officials are in the grip of fear. The vulnerable points are at Kulla and Sundarapalli near Kotipalli with a stretch of 150 metres each; and soil erosion is getting worse. The flood bank works at Gannavaram, Razole and Sakhinetipalli require Rs 46 crore. In West Godavari district, Doddipatla, Gangadapalli and Yalamanchili would require Rs 11 crore.

Whenever Godavari receives floods, the waters reach the floodbanks and this sends out a danger signal. Works are to be done at the Lolla Locks, Sankaraguptam major drain and Upper Koushika left bank on the medium drain. There is a growing demand to develop Kundaleswaram where the ancient Lord Shiva temple is located. It is hailed as the Varanasi of the South.

The Dowleswaram Irrigation Circle SE, K Gopinath told Deccan Chronicle that the government sanctioned Rs 33 crore for 877 works for removal of weed and shutter replacement in identified places and for construction of new structures and formation of canal roads. Some `11 crore is earmarked for construction of residential and non-residential buildings, for which designs have been approved by the government.

He said proposals have been sent for development of the Lolla Locks, Sankaraguptam major drain and Upper Koushika Left on medium drain.

The works would require Rs 40 crore of Sundarapalli, Rs 4 crore for Kundaleswaram etc. The government sanctioned Rs 3.36 crore for erecting gates to the Pampa reservoirs and tenders were floated, but the initiative ended there.

It is said that contractors are not coming forward to take up the works as they are fearful that funds would not be released soon. Already, the government has to pay Rs 90 crore of arrears to the contractors for the irrigation works they have executed in recent times.