AP to take up minor irrigation works in a big way

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government today announced it would take up Rs 2,800 crore worth minor irrigation works with the assistance of, among other agencies, the World Bank and the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation.

Addressing a press conference here, State Minor Irrigation Minister S Vijayarama Raju said under the Prime Minister's special package for the 16 suicide-prone districts, another Rs 1,331 crore had been sanctioned by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for minor irrigation works.

For the first time, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 168 crore, including Rs 110 crore grant, for taking up minor irrigation projects in the state under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.

Large scale restoration of 66,000 minor irrigation tanks, hitherto under the Panchayatraj Department, would be revived over next four to five years, he added.

UNI