Rayalaseema Samithi Seeks 41 Per cent of Budget Allocation on Irrigation Projects

Kurnool: Leaders of Rayalaseema Saguneeti Sadhana Samiti demanded the government allocate 41 per cent of the AP state budget for the irrigation projects of Rayalaseema, which encompasses 41 per cent of AP’s landmass.

They also sought another 20 per cent of the state budget funds for development of the Rayalaseema irrigation sector in line with the other developed areas of the state.

The 8th anniversary of the Siddeswaram Alugu foundation at Sangameswaram in Nandyal was organised on Monday.

People's associations, farmers, lawyers, students' associations and hundreds of farmers participated in the event from eight districts of Rayalaseema. Along with the formation of the Rayalaseema Special Irrigation Commission, the leaders called for proper management of projects like Gundrevula Reservoir, Vedavati Lift Scheme, Tungabhadra Upper Parallel Canal, and RDS Right Canal and that the related works be taken up on a war footing for their full utilization.

This must be done while protecting the legal water rights in Rayalaseema, they said.

The farmer leaders said the Telugu Ganga, Galeru-Nagari, Handriniva, Velugonda irrigation projects mentioned in the state bifurcation act should be completed soon. They also demanded construction of the Dummugudem-Nagarjuna Sagar tail-pond project as per the bifurcation act, so that the saved Krishna water could be provided to the above projects.

As part of decentralization of state, the leaders sought the establishment of a high court bench, Krishna river management board office, a seed hub, a horticulture hub, setting up of agriculture and horticulture universities, and state-level offices in Rayalaseema.