Prepare action plan to make AP drought-proof: Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has instructed irrigation department officials to prepare an action plan to make the state drought-proof.

In a review held at his office on Tuesday, the Chief Minister has asked the irrigation department to identify and expedite the process of completing pending projects. Currently, AP has 54 irrigation projects under construction. Reviewing the status of existing projects, the Chief Minister has ordered officials to identify Ayacut areas of various projects that will irrigate farm lands. For this, he has also asked them to prepare budget estimates within a week. The Chief Minister has also asked officials to identify obstacles delaying these projects and ensure their completion.

The Chief Minister has said that a State Irrigation Advisory Committee would be set up to study water scarcity in mandals located near the basins of Krishna, Godavari, Penna, Vamsadara and Nagavalli rivers and develop a plan to provide water to these mandals.

Naidu ordered the officials to ensure that the money spent on irrigation projects will enable complete utilization of the projects. The irrigation department officials informed the Chief Minister that Andhra Pradesh currently receives 1,500 tmc of inflows.

With AP having over 24 lakh lakes and other small water bodies, the Chief Minister has also asked officials to draw a plan to utilize water from these sources and divert them to drought-hit areas. This is to ensure that every village/hamlet in the state is provided with drinking water and water for domestic purposes.

Minister for Major Irrigation Devineni Umamaheshwar Rao, Irrigation advisor PK Agarwal, Principal Secretary (irrigation), Engineer-in-chief were present at the meeting.