Amaravati, April 15 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday directed the officials to prepare an action plan for utilisation of Godavari waters once the Polavaram Project is completed.

He emphasised that water from the right and left main canals should be efficiently distributed to reservoirs and tanks to meet irrigation and other needs.

During a review meeting held at his officials with Water Resources department officials, the Chief Minister assessed the progress of major irrigation projects including Polavaram, Veligonda, Handri–Neeva Sujala Sravanthi, Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar Link, Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme, Varikapudiselu and North Andhra projects.

He also reviewed initiatives aimed at groundwater augmentation, Jaladhara and Jal Harathi programs.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to accelerate works on North Andhra projects such as Tharakarama, Mahendratanaya, Thotapalli Barrage, Maddulavalasa, Janjavathi, and Hiramandalam Lift schemes. He set deadlines for interlinking rivers: Vamsadhara–Nagavali by December and Nagavali–Champavathi by July.

With obstacles cleared, he directed that tenders for the prestigious Neradi Barrage on the Vamsadhara River in Srikakulam district be floated at the earliest.

The Chief Minister proposed developing the Polavaram Project as a major tourist destination with hotels, shopping areas, and beautification of surrounding regions.

Plans are to include boating facilities from Polavaram to Papikondalu and Bhadrachalam along with water, rock, forest, and sports-themed attractions.

He directed officials to expedite works to inaugurate the project by the time of the Godavari Pushkarams.

The Chief Minister set a deadline of June-end for completion of Veligonda stage-I with an estimated cost of Rs 2,042 crore.

Officials reported that 52 TMC of Srisailam backwaters have already been diverted to Rayalaseema through Malyala Lift. He said with the efforts of state government the groundwater availability reached 625 TMC as of April 1 which indicates increase of 12 TMC compared to last year.

Groundwater levels improved by 0.79 meters statewide. Across 5,697 villages, groundwater is available within 8 meters depth, the Chief Minister added.

Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu, Chief Secretary G Sai Prasad and senior officials were present.

–IANS

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