Veligonda Waters to Reach Nallamala Sagar by August-End: Ramanaidu
At a high-level review meeting at the Markapuram collectorate, Ramanaidu said completing the first phase of the project and releasing water into Nallamala Sagar was the government’s top priority.
Nellore: Water from the Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project will be released into Nallamala Sagar by the end of August, fulfilling a long-pending demand of drought- and fluoride-affected people in Rayalaseema and Prakasam districts, State Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said on Thursday.
At a high-level review meeting at the Markapuram collectorate, Ramanaidu said completing the first phase of the project and releasing water into Nallamala Sagar was the government’s top priority.
He said the water level in Srisailam was around 870 ft, against the minimum 855 ft required for Veligonda inflows. This provided an opportunity to divert about 10 TMC of water in 10-15 days at the rate of 1 TMC a day, he said.
Reviewing the project works, Ramanaidu said difficult excavation at Kollamvagu had been completed, while lining of Tunnel-2 was nearing completion, with 150 metres remaining of the 19-km stretch. About 4.9 km of benching work and substantial feeder canal works had also been completed.
On rehabilitation, he said Rs 318 crore of the Rs.900-crore R&R package had been deposited directly into beneficiaries’ accounts. He assured that no eligible displaced family would be denied compensation and that grievances, including errors in awards and records, would be addressed transparently.
The minister said Veligonda waters would transform Markapuram by supporting irrigation and drinking water needs and promoting the region as an industrial and horticulture hub.
