Krishna river delta to be modernised

Vijayawada: The irrigation expert committee expressed concern over encroachments on irrigation canal bunds in the city. The committee members inspected the canals here on Wednesday. The committee members sought the cooperation of government and people to take up modernisation works of irrigation canals.

The committee members including Mr Cherukuri Veeraiah Chowdary, Mr Giridhar Reddy, Mr Rosaiah, Mr Subba Rao and superintending engineer Mr Rameshbabu inspected the canals and later met minister for Irrigation Mr Devineni Umamahe-swara Rao.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Umamaheswara Rao said the canal modernisation works would be taken up in a scientific manner. He said the irrigation expert committee would visit the Krishna and Godavari delta ayacut region and submit a report to government. He said after the study of Krishna and Godavari delta position, the expert committee would visit Penna delta to submit a report. He said after receiving necessary report from the committee, the state government would launch delta modernisation works to supply water to tail-end areas.

The irrigation minister said the expert committee would submit a report to government by the end of kharif season. He said people of Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur are facing shortage of drinking water. The Congress government failed to improve the irrigation system through Jalayagnam, he added.

Mr Umamaheswara Rao said that steps would be taken to prevent pollution of canals and Krishna river.

MLC Mr Boddu Nages-wara Rao said the government should take up the modernisation works with proper planning. Experts committee member Mr Veeraiah Chow-dary said that the committee noticed a number of encroachments on Eluru canal passing through the city. He said both the government and people should extend cooperation to remove encroachments and for modernisation works. MP Ilapuram Venkaiah and irrigation officials were present.