Vijayawada: Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Tuesday announced that the central government has cleared the wildlife permit for Varikepudisela Lift Irrigation Project, which will provide irrigation and drinking water facilities to people in Macherla and Vinukonda Assembly constituencies.
This fulfils the seven-decade-old dream of Palnadu people seeking an irrigation project.
The MP pointed out that major parts of this largest project in Palnadu region, like pump house, pressure main and break pressure tank, are located within the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagarjuna Srisailam Tiger Sanctuary. State government took up the issue with National Wildlife Board, which the Lok Sabha member too followed up, leading to clearance of the project on Tuesday.
Devarayalu said total 19.13 hectares of forest land will be required for construction of the project. He thanked the Centre, state and Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy for facilitating clearances for the project.
The MP pointed out that the project will help irrigate 50–70 thousand acres of land and provide drinking water to 4.5 lakh people in Veldurthi, Durgi and Bollapally mandals in Macherla and Vinukonda Assembly constituencies.
