Project to provide water to 49 tanks in two mandals Estimated cost goes up from Rs 33 cr to 145.52 cr Sathupalli (Khammam): Th...
- Project to provide water to 49 tanks in two mandals
- Estimated cost goes up from Rs 33 cr to 145.52 cr
It was proposed to construct the canal way back in 2007 to provide 2,700 cusecs of water to 49 tanks in the two mandals of Sathupalli and Vemsoor in Khammam district and ensure irrigation facility to farmers. Bethupalli alternative canal was proposed as NTR canal came under the expansion works of Singareni open cast mine.
The completion of the works of the canal will facilitate release of water to three tanks Vesyakanthala Cheruvu, Jeelugula Cheruvu and Rejarla Cheruvu in Sathupalli mandal and 46 tanks in Vemsoor mandal, considered to be a drought prone mandal.
Sathupalli MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao secured sanction for the canal works from the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in 2007. The project was initially estimated to cost Rs 33 crore. The completion of the works would facilitate release of 150 cusecs of water daily to the 49 tanks. The water from the canal would be released for a period of 18 days during a year.
The canal works were originally expected to be completed by 2009. However, due to the change in design of the canal, there has been a delay in construction works. Due to the delay, the project cost has gone up significantly. With the change in design and under the Standard Schedule of Rules, the project cost has gone up to Rs 123.69 crore in 2010-11. The cost has further escalated to Rs 145.52 crore as per the revised estimates prepared in 2013-14.
There has also been delay in land acquisition for execution of the canal works due to lack of coordination between the officials of revenue and irrigation departments. The revenue department is yet to provide compensation for the assigned lands acquired for the project. The payment has to be made for 13 acres acquired in Rejarla village of Sathupalli mandal and Lingapalem village of Vemsoor mandal. Farmers of these villages were expressing anger over the delay in payment of compensation.
