Ambati Rambabu promises water for irrigation to farmers under Gundlakamma project
Nellore: Water resources minister Ambati Rambabu said they would fill Gundlakamma project with Nagarjunasagar water if necessary, while taking a dig on TD leaders for raising a hue and cry over leakage of water from the damaged third gate of the reservoir.
Addressing the media after inspecting the project on Saturday, he said the previous TD government has not spent at least one rupee for the dam safety and their negligence is the reason for the current situation.
He maintained that there was no need to consider the criticism of former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu since he was trying to use the incident for political mileage.
Rambabu said the engineers could not fix the stop locks for the past two days to arrest the leakage because of heavy outflow of water from the damaged gate.
He made it clear that they have to release 2 tmc ft of water out of 3.4 tmc ft available in the project into the Bay of Bengal to carry out the repairs to the damaged gate as well as all 10 gates in the current season.
The minister said the officials had already submitted proposals for the works and the contractor has also been finalised to execute the works.
He hastened to add that they will ensure water for Kharif and Rabi seasons while pointing to possible heavy rains during November and December.
“Farmers depending on Gundlakamma project need not worry about water for irrigation based on the propaganda over leakage of water as the project fills with water five times in a year and water is released based on requirements. We will divert water from Nagarjunasagar right canal to Gundlakamma if necessary,” Rambabu assured.
Referring to the repairs in progress for the gates of Pulichintala project, the minister said, “It is a fact that repairs are necessary for all the gates in all the projects and we are paying special attention towards safety of all the dams.”
Prakasam ZP chairperson Buchepalli Venkayamma, joint-collector Abhishikth Kishore, SN Padu MLA T.J.R. Sudhakar Babu, irrigation chief Narayana Reddy and project SE Yastika were present with the minister.
