Nimmala Directs Completion of Irrigation Canal Maintenance Before Kharif Season
Minister asks officials to finish canal repair and desiltation works ahead of kharif season, seeks weekly progress reports
Nimmala Ramanaidu has directed officials to complete operation and maintenance works on irrigation canals before the commencement of the kharif season in the first week of June.
The minister held a video conference with senior officials of the Water Resources Department on Friday and instructed them to submit weekly progress reports on canal maintenance works. He also called for better coordination between Jaladhara and operation and maintenance activities to improve groundwater levels across Andhra Pradesh.
Ramanaidu said Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would soon hold a review meeting with district collectors and Water Resources Department officials on the Jaladhara programme.
Criticising the previous YSRC government for allegedly neglecting the irrigation canal system, the minister said the alliance government had allocated ₹708 crore in two phases for operation and maintenance works. He added that another ₹397 crore had been sanctioned under Phase III for works such as weed removal, desiltation and emergency repairs.
The minister said 5,943 out of the total 6,502 works — nearly 91 per cent — had been allotted to water user associations. He also recalled the Cabinet decision allowing short tenders within seven days for emergency works valued above ₹10 lakh.
