Rs 1,483 cr spent on irrigation alone in February :Minister

Hyderabad, Mar 1 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah today said February 2006 was a milestone in the history of the state as an amount of Rs 1,483 crore was spent on irrigation in a single month.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the amount was larger than the yearly allocation for irrigation sector of some states and the annual budget of some others.

Dismissing the allegations of the opposition that the Telangana region was being neglected in allocations in the irrigation sector, the Minister said while Rs 886.35 crore was spent in the irrigation sector from April 1 2005 to January 31 2006 in Andhra region, Rs 2,200.48 crore was spent in the Telangana region and Rs 484.87 crore in the Rayalaseema region.

He said last month alone an amount of Rs 712.98 crore was spent in the Telangana region against Rs 571.85 crore in Andhra and Rs 198.17 crore in the Rayalaseema regions.

He said during March 2006, an amount of Rs 620 crore was expected to be spent in the Telangana region against Rs 426 crore in Andhra and Rs 200 crore in Rayalaseema regions.

The Minister said that Gutfa, Alisagar and Chokkarao Lift Irrigation schemes in the Telangana region would be among the eight irrigation projects that would be completed in two years. These eight projects would bring 7.5 lakh acres under irrigation and water would be released by the next Khariff season.

Mr Lakshmaiah said Sri Ram Sagar Project Second stage would also be completed by then, providing irrigation facility to an additional 50,000 acres in the Telangana region.

UNI JRK ROY MA PM2052