The State government has not paid any attention to the irrigation projects in North Andhra where a majority of the people are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, BJP district president Reddi Pavani and Uttarandhra Abhivriddhi Committee chairman and former Cheepurupalli MLA Gadde Babu Rao alleged on Sunday.
Addressing a press meet here, Ms. Pavani said that BJP State president Somu Veerraju and senior leaders including G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, Daggubati Purandeswari, and P.V.N. Madhav would visit pending irrigation projects including Vamsadhara, Madduvalasa, and Thotapalli in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts on April 7 and 8 and and step up pressure on the government for the completion of projects at the earliest.
Mr. Babu Rao said that nearly five lakh acres of barren land would be irrigated if projects were completed within a scheduled time frame. “The Neradi barrage on Vamsadhara has to be completed quickly to ensure water for nearly three lakh acres. Thotapalli, Andra, Madduvalasa, Thatipudi, Vengalarayasagar, and Jhanjhavati would also ensure additional ayacut if distributory network is constructed. Proper maintenance of canals can ensure cultivation of two crops a year,” said Mr. Babu Rao.
BJP State executive committee member Teegala Harinath and leaders Kusumanchi Subba Rao and Baggam Rajesh were present at the press meet.