Pulichintala Irrigation works to be speeded up

Vijayawada, May 8 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah today said the state government had taken a decision to speed up the Pulichintala Irrigation project works based on the final report of the Central Water Commission (CWC) to be submitted to the state government by May 20.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the Interim Report was already submitted by the CWC to the government on the controversial crest gates issue, bringing down from 33 to 24 by the contractors, which was reportedly approved by the Chief Minister.

The minister said there was no controversy on the downsizing of the gates and revealed that the state government had sent the design of crest gates to CWC for its approval. The Pulichintala Project would be completed by 2009, he added.

On the Krishna Delta modernisation issue, he said an expert committee had been constituted and its report would be received by May 30. Thereafter, the government would consult private consultants to assess the report before commencing the modernisation work, with an outlay of more than Rs 1500 crore, he added.

Mr Lakshmiah said on the repairs of flood banks in four districts comprising east, west, Krishna and Guntur districts.

He said of the Rs 1179 crore allottment, works were started with an amount of Rs 714 crore in these districts and tenders were called for 25 packages out of 28.

He said the ordinary repairs of the Ayacut would be completed by june 10 in these districts.

The state government had taken a decision to release water from Nagarjunasagar Dam to Krishna Delta from June 10, he added.

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