Amaravati, May 15 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday paid rich tributes to British irrigation engineer Sir Arthur Cotton on his birth anniversary, recalling his role in transforming Godavari districts into lush green fields.

“On the occasion of his birth anniversary, I fondly remember the great Sir Arthur Cotton, who transformed the Godavari districts into lush green fields and bestowed enduring prosperity upon the farmers,” Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu posted on X.

“With his visionary foresight, Cotton breathed life into the Godavari Delta, illuminating the lives of lakhs of farming families. That is why Cotton still lives vibrantly in the hearts of the people even today. Offering my tributes, I affirm that the construction of irrigation projects undertaken by the people’s government in the state and the efficient management of water draw inspiration from Cotton himself,” he said.

Former chief minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also paid tributes to Sir Arthur Cotton.

“If the Godavari districts are today abloom with verdant fields of crops, the reason for that is Sir Arthur Cotton. He is the great soul who built the Dowleswaram Project near Rajamahendravaram, erecting a barrage to stem the floodwaters merging into the sea, thereby providing irrigation and drinking water to lakhs of acres. His contributions to agriculture and irrigation can never be forgotten. Today, on the occasion of Sir Arthur Cotton’s birth anniversary, our salutations,” posted Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Meanwhile, Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu stated that irrigation projects across the state are being completed in accordance with the vision and ideals of Sir Arthur Cotton.

The minister paid rich tributes to Arthur Cotton on his birth anniversary by garlanding his portrait at his camp office in Vijayawada.

He lauded Cotton as a visionary figure who, through his foresight, constructed the Dowleswaram and Krishna Barrages, as well as an extensive network of canals across the twin Godavari districts and the Krishna district.

The minister remarked that during the past five years of the YSRCP rule, the very soul of Cotton would have been tormented by the destruction inflicted upon the Irrigation Department and projects such as Polavaram.

Ramanaidu noted that Chandrababu Naidu has successfully steered the irrigation sector—including the ravaged Polavaram project—back on track.

He further highlighted that, following Cotton’s construction of the Dowleswaram Barrage across the Godavari River, the Polavaram project is now being built under the leadership of Chandrababu.

The minister announced that, inspired by Cotton’s legacy, an allocation of Rs 150.09 crore has been made for the installation of 117 new gates at the Dowleswaram Barrage; he assured that the work would commence shortly and the installation of the gates would be completed in due course.

Ramanaidu stated that a LiDAR survey for the rejuvenation of the Godavari Delta has been completed at a cost of Rs 14 crore, and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being prepared based on the findings of that survey.

–IANS

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