Pemmasani Pushes for Guntur Channel Modernisation, New Road Project
Pemmasani said land acquisition had been expedited with the alliance government coming back to power
VIJAYAWADA: Union minister of state for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandrasekhar on Sunday reaffirmed the NDA alliance government’s commitment to accelerating the long-pending Guntur Channel modernisation project, while launching a major road connectivity initiative in Ananthavarappadu village of Guntur district.
Inspecting the Guntur Channel expansion and modernisation works, Pemmasani said the irrigation channel, constructed in 1972, has been playing a vital role in supplying Krishna River water to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of Guntur district. The 47-km-long channel, with a carrying capacity of 600 cusecs, currently irrigates nearly 27,000 acres.
The union minister underlined that the ageing culverts, gates, and bridges of Guntur channel have made the canal’s modernisation essential. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved this project in 2017–18 at an estimated cost of ₹250 crore, including ₹100 crore for land acquisition. More than ₹28 crore have already been disbursed to farmers as compensation.
Pemmasani said land acquisition had been expedited with the alliance government coming back to power. He directed officials to begin canal works immediately in areas where land acquisition had already been completed. He assured farmers that drainage facilities will be provided to prevent waterlogging in fields. Further, the excavated soil from canal works would be used locally and not transported elsewhere.
Later, the union minister laid the foundation stone for a 3.5-km road connecting the NH-16 Service Road to Ananthavarappadu village. The project, sanctioned with CRDA funding of ₹6.7 crore addresses a long-pending demand of villagers. He asked officials to complete the road using high construction standards within six months, so that it remains durable for at least five to seven years.
Further, Pemmasani promised to deal with other civic issues raised by residents, including drainage facilities in SC colonies, preventing discharge of sewage into Guntur Channel and improvement of internal roads.
Maintaining that visible development should reach every village, the union minister said the government will continue prioritising irrigation, road infrastructure, drinking water, and drainage projects, while addressing local issues in a phased manner.
