Project replacement land a problem for AP government

Khammam: Acquiring forest land for canals as part of Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project has become a stupendous task for revenue officials. As per the forest act, the State government has to show equal land to the land being acquired for the project.

The government needs to acquire 3,700 acres of forest land to dig canals for a length of 255 kms in Khammam and Kothagudem districts. For it, the government has to hand over equal land to the forest department. The government took up various projects in the two districts. In this situation, acquiring more land for the forest is not easy and going to the other districts for it.

The revenue officials have failed to find such land in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts. They are able to get only 2,700 acres in Bhadradri and 700 in Khammam districts. The government noticed another 1,100 acres in Jagityala district and planned to hand that over to the forest deparment. The forest department has to give permission to the State government on the forest land.

The irrigation officials have sent a comprehensive report on it to Union Forest department. The engineers are digging the canal near BG Kothur and Amerda villages under Aswapuram mandal as part of first package of the irrigation project. It is recalled that there are eight packages in the project. The task of the government is to extend water to the lands to the next kharif. For it, the irrigation officials were asked to send the day to day reports on the work progress.