HYDERABAD

The objective of the Congress Government is to provide water security to combined Khammam district and an action plan would be prepared to ensure that, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

In a meeting to review the progress of irrigation projects in combined Khammam district on Thursday, he said that the focus would be on completing the pending works so that the benefits reached farmers and people at the earliest. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Vakiti Srihari and other elected representatives participated.

He stated that works pertaining to Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project, Sitamma Sagar multi-purpose project, Munneru-Palair Link Canal would gather pace with land acquisition, securing forest clearances, and shortage of funds addressed on a war-footing. Terming Sitarama project as the one that could change the future of combined Khammam district, he said the Munneru-Palair link would not only stabilise the existing ayacut but would also create new irrigation potential.

The link canal would be a blessing for farmers of Khammam and Suryapet districts, the minister said, adding that it would draw water with gravity. Once completed, the projects would bring a green revolution in the combined Khammam district, he noted. He said that the government was also prioritising flood protection works in Bhadrachalam and Khammam.