Godavari Delta modernization work to be completed by 2029: Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu

Amaravati : Question and Answer Session is continuing in the AP Assembly. Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu answered the questions raised by the members on the modernization of Yanamaduru Drain and the status of Keshanapalli Canal Project in the Legislative Assembly. He said that Yanamaduru Drain is important in the West Godavari Delta. He said that the Yanamaduru Drain, which has a capacity of 23 thousand cusecs, is receiving flood beyond its capacity. He said that proposals are being prepared to increase the capacity of Yanamaduru Drain to 30 thousand cusecs and to reconstruct the dilapidated inlets.

The minister explained that out of 86 inlets in the Yanamaduru drain, 70 inlets have reached a dilapidated state. After the coalition government came to power, Rs. 3.2 crore has been allocated in two phases and 10 inlets are being reconstructed. Since the Yanamaduru drain meets the sea through Upputeru, Upputeru will also be developed, he said. He said that Rs. 14 crore has been allocated for the modernization of canals and drains in the Godavari delta, a lidar survey has been completed and a DPR is being prepared. He said that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has released an irrigation calendar with 36 priority projects in the state.

Nimmala said that Godavari Delta modernization has also been included in the 36 priority projects. He clarified that the Godavari Delta modernization work will be completed by 2029. He criticized that in addition to not allocating funds for O&M during the 2019-24 regime, desilting, locks, shutters and ropes repairs were not taken up. He said that in the coalition government, more than Rs. 1100 crores of funds were allocated and O&M works were undertaken in two years. He said that estimates are being prepared for the Kesanapalli Canal Project to provide irrigation water to 2686 acres of new land in the Rajolu constituency of Ambedkar Konaseema district. He said that seawater is entering the villages based on coconut cultivation and the Kesanapalli Canal Project has been proposed with the intention of providing fresh water to those villages as an alternative. He said that except for the dredging works done during the previous TDP regime in 2017-18, not a single rupee of work has been done during the last 5 years of the YSRCP regime.

The minister said that farmers have lost their coconut crops in thousands of acres due to seawater entering through the drain. He said that after the coalition government came to power, the farmers and leaders brought the issue of Shankaraguptam drain to his attention. He said that after directly examining it with irrigation experts and conducting two more reviews, funds of Rs. 21 crore were released. He said that with the efforts of CM Chandrababu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, funds were obtained from the Finance Department and the work was started. Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said that while the work of Shankaraguptam drain is 25 percent complete, the work will be completed by May-2027.