Empowered Committee visits Polavaram site

Vijayawada, July 31 (UNI) The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court on Polavaram (Indira Sagar) Project today visited the project site and the famous Kolleru Lake in West Godavari and Krishna Districts.

Headed by Mr P V Jayakrishna, the committee members arrived here at the Gannavaram Airport after touring the areas.MLAs from Krishna District and representatives of several farmers associations submitted representations in support of the Polavaram Project.

In their memoranda, the Consortium of Indian Farmers Association, CPI District Committee and Andhra Pradesh Jalayagna Sadhana Samithi leaders explained to the committee the need for the project.

Farmers Assocation Founder Member A Bhavaniprasad said the project will bring more than 7.20 lakh acre additionally under cultivation besides meeting water requirements of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

It will help provide water for irrigating drought-prone districts of Telangana and Rayalaseem regions in the state besides helping produce 950 MW of power which could be used for lift irrigation projects apart from mitigating flood havoc.

The project will help provide drinking water to more than two crore people and relief for those in fluoride-affected areas.

They said the state was taking all efforts to fulfil its obligations on rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced.

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