Govt to remodel irrigation projects: AP CM

Hyderabad, Apr 22 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the State Government would take up remodelling of 28 medium irrigation projects and construction of 100 new tanks costing about Rs 1000 crore under the 'Livelihood Improvement Project' assisted by Japanese Bank for International Cooperation.

Dr Reddy, who reviewed the restoration of tanks, the World Bank credit and the minor irrigation programmes here, expressed the hope that the stablisation of minor irrigation tanks would be a major milestone in the government's efforts to usher in a second Green Revolution in the state.

He said, ''The government had come out with yet another major inititative for restoration of more than 3000 minor irrigation tanks, creating an additional ayacut of nearly six lakh acre.'' The Chief Minister lauded the World Bank approval for 189 million US Dollars credit to the state for restoration of irrigation tanks to improve agriculture productivity and help local people manage tank irrigation system effectively.

He said under the project, the entire tank rehabilitation work would be undertaken in three batches over a period of five years.

He also said the government had submitted proposals of minor irrigation schemes under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme(AIBP) of the Centre.'' Proposals worth Rs 250 crore had already been submited to the Centre for the year 2006-07,'' he added.

UNI