Kurnool: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the second tunnel of the Owk project and released 20,000 cusecs of water from Gorakallu to the Owk reservoir on Thursday. This would majorly benefit the people of Rayalaseema.
The government has allocated Rs.1,501.94 crore for the Owk tunnels, with Rs.567.94 crore specifically dedicated to the tunnels 1 and 2. Tunnel 3, spanning 5.801 km, has seen progress through 4.526 km, incurring a cost of Rs.934 crore. The remaining 1.275km is under development, at an estimated cost of Rs.1,297.78 crore.
The Owk project, initiated during Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s tenure, witnessed a revival with a spending of Rs.340.53 crore to complete a major portion. Between 2014 and 2019, the Telugu Deam government had allocated Rs.81.55 crore, which was insufficient. The present government allocated funds and completed tunnel-2 at a cost of Rs.145.86 crore.
The release of water to the Owk reservoir, integral to the Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (GNSS) project, realises the longstanding aspirations of the people of Rayalaseema.
Tunnels 1 and 2 enable a daily release of 20,000 cusecs during the flood season, with tunnel 3, once completed, facilitating an additional daily release of 10,000 cusecs.
The completion of the tunnels benefits Gandikota, Vamikonda, Sarvaraya Sagar, Mylavaram and Paidipalem reservoirs, providing an additional 1 tmc of water daily for irrigation across 2.60 lakh acres in Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore districts.
This initiative stabilises 1.31 lakh acres of Ayacut and caters to the drinking water needs of 20 lakh people in 640 villages. Further, it expedites the filling of the Gandikota reservoir in 15 days through the Galeru-Nagari flood canal, ensuring Rayalaseema receives 2tmc of water daily during the flood season.
Last year, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the Nellore and Sangam barrages, crucial projects for the Penna delta, along with the Handri-Neeva Lift Irrigation project.
On the inauguration of the Owk tunnel project dedicated to the nation by the Chief Minister, his compassionate gesture was evident. Nara Pullareddy from Bommakunta in Narpala mandal, struggling with kidney disease, and Gange Gurrappa from Gokuladinne village in Owk mandal, seeking assistance for their 16-month-old daughter Harshita, reached out to the CM for financial help.
The Chief Minister directed the district collector to support them. Collector Manazir Samoon handed over a cheque for Rs.5 lakh from the CM Relief Fund to Pullareddy for kidney treatment. He and the joint-collector handed over a cheque for Rs.1 lakh to Harshita, the 16-month-old daughter of Gange Gurrappa from Gokuladinne, for the treatment of her heart disease, from the CM relief fund.
Deputy chief minister S.B. Amzath Basha, water resources minister Ambati Rambabu, labour minister Gummanuru Jayaram, Zilla Parishad chairman Yerrabotula Papireddy, Nandyal MP Pocha Brahmananda Reddy, MLC Issac Basha, Banaganapalle MLA Katasani Rami Reddy, Nandyal MLA Shilpa Ravichandra, Panyam MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy, Nandikotkur MLA Thoguru Arthur, Allagadda MLA Gangula Brijendranath Reddy, Srisailam MLA Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy and others were present.
