CM directs to complete construction and restoration of tanks

Hyderabad, Oct 13 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy directed the irrigation officials that the construction and restoration of new and existing tanks under the minor irrigation sector should be taken up on a mission - mode and completed on a war footing.

While reviewing the irrigation schemes with Minister for Minor Irrigation M Mareppa and Secretary Irrigatrion Satish Chandra and other officials, the Chief Minister said wherever possible the ongoing National Rural Employment Gurantee Programme should be made use of for completion of the tank repair and construction works and the rest should be taken up by the department.

He said in all 42,49,138 acres would be irrigated under the minor irrigation through about 77,391 sources.

He said there were 66,195 minor irrigation tanks under stabilisation in 100 acres. Total package for minor irrigation under Prime Minister's special package was Rs 2,231 crore and the programme was to be implemented in three years.

The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of flood damage works, Andhra Pradesh Community Based Tank Management Project and Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Rehabilitation Project.

The Andhra Pradesh State Irrigation Development Corporation scheme implemented till September this year included 1,420 lift irrigation schemes, 20,115 bore wells and tube wells costing Rs 742.63 crore to irrigate 9.10 lakh acres of land.

The Chief Minister asked the irrigation officials to speed up all the ongoing and proposed works and complete all the works in a definite time bound manner.

UNI BR GKT 2110