Saturday, October 4, 2008

20000-CRORE PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED IN FOUR YEARS: YSR


20,000-crore project to be completed in four years
Traditional tribute: Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy does ‘namaskaram’ after unveiling the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Karimnagar on Friday.
KARIMNAGAR: The ambitious Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation scheme, which is aimed at providing irrigation sources to 13.5 lakh acres in the upland Telangana region, was formally launched by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday.
He laid the foundation stone for lifting of waters from the Mid Manair Dam (MMD) to Upper Manair Dam (UMD) at an estimated cost of Rs. 400 crore in Narmal village of Gambhiraopeta mandal. Incidentally, the MMD, which was constructed as part of SRSP flood-flow canal project, would also act as link project for the Yellampalli and Pranahita-Chevella projects.
The Chief Minister said that the Pranahita-Chevella project would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 20,000 crore and would be completed in four years. He said that the project requires about 3,000 MWs of power supply for the lifting of waters to the upland regions in the Telangana. He said that the government was taking all measures to generate additional 3,000 MWs of power required for the Pranahita-Chevella project.
He said that the lifting of waters from MMD to UMD would provide irrigation to an additional 80,000 acres in Nerella and Sircilla segments and also solve drinking water problem.
He also announced to name UMD project after former Minister Pati Rajam project. He said that he would not compromise projects in Telangana region and would remove drought permanently.
Launches campaign
Meanwhile the Chief Minister also formally launched the campaign here on Friday for the ensuing byelections in the State by appealing to people to bless the Congress.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the sprawling Veterinary Polytechnic College grounds at Malkapuram on the outskirts of Karimnagar town, the Chief Minister said that the Congress alone was fulfilling the promises made during electioneering. Ministers – Md. Shabbir Ali, Ponnala Laxmaiah, Jeevan Reddy, Sabitha Indra Reddy, G. Vinod, Government Whip D. Sridhar Babu, ZP Chairman A. Mohan were present.