Amaravati, May 11 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday appealed to the Central Government to sanction funds for Andhra Pradesh, covering various Centrally Sponsored Schemes as well as commitments made in the past.

The Chief Minister had separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil in New Delhi.

He requested the Home Minister to sanction funds related to various pending projects, in addition to addressing issues arising from the state’s bifurcation.

CM Naidu further requested that the Centre provide the necessary support for the state’s development, over and above the allocations made in the current Union Budget.

Subsequently, during his meeting with Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil, the Chief Minister appealed for the resolution of critical issues concerning the Polavaram Project.

He emphasised the need for full cooperation to ensure the completion of this prestigious project before the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams.

According to an official release here, Naidu specifically noted the requirement to complete the necessary civil works to facilitate water storage up to a level of 41.15 meters in the first phase.

Chief Minister Naidu requested the Union Minister of Jal Shakti to permanently withdraw the “Stop Work Order” issued in 2011, citing the pending status of public opinion consultations in the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. He clarified that such a withdrawal would enable the Polavaram project works to proceed rapidly and without any hindrances.

The Chief Minister informed the Central minister that, in view of irrigation requirements, the carrying capacity of both the right and left Canals had been increased to 17,500 cusecs—an enhancement over the originally planned capacity. In his letter, he revealed that 95 per cent of the work on the right canal and 78 per cent of the work on the left canal have currently been completed.

Naidu appealed to the Jal Shakti Minister to reimburse the funds corresponding to this increased canal capacity. Furthermore, he requested the Union Minister to sanction the necessary funds for the subsequent phases of the project works.

He appealed to Union Minister Patil not to issue a Gazette notification regarding the proposal to increase the height of the Almatti Dam until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict.

CM Naidu emphasised that increasing the dam’s height from 519.60 meters to 524.256 meters would jeopardise Andhra Pradesh’s interests, and therefore, no technical or administrative clearances should be granted for this purpose.

He further explained that Karnataka should be directed to refrain from undertaking land acquisition or other preparatory works under Phase III of the Upper Krishna Project, and that the status quo must be maintained until the Supreme Court’s final judgment is delivered.

Naidu requested that clearances be granted for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, which is designed to quench the thirst of the Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra regions. He noted that this link project is being undertaken to divert 200 TMCs of floodwaters from the Godavari River—which would otherwise flow wastefully into the sea—for beneficial use.

The Chief Minister submitted another letter requesting the sanction of funds for the restoration and modernisation of various irrigation schemes within the state, under the ambit of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).

CM Naidu stated that, as part of the ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’ (Water to Every Field) initiative, it is necessary to undertake works such as the repair, restoration, and modernisation of tanks and ponds, as well as the desilting of canals and the strengthening of embankments.

He requested the release of Rs 285 crore to facilitate the restoration of 297 water bodies across the state.

–IANS

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