Tirupati: Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy on Wednesday underlined that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's surprise inspection of Somasila Reservoir has reignited hope among Nellore district farmers that critical development projects in the region will be fast-tracked.
Addressing a press conference in Nellore along with Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and Kavali MLA D.V. Krishna Reddy, Ramanarayana Reddy said apart from visiting the Somasila reservoir, the lifeline of Nellore district, the Chief Minister had sanctioned funds for critical development projects within 70 days of assuming office.
The minister criticised the previous YSRC government for neglecting Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs, vital for the district's water needs. He noted that Naidu has ordered completion of Somasila's repairs by September, with 25,000 to 30,000 cubic meters of concrete to be utilised for completing the entire project by March 2025.
“Funds have been sanctioned for other repairs like crest gates and greasing, amounting to ₹2.42 crore, as well as ₹5.40 crore for the repair of head regulator on the right side that supplies water from Somasila to Kandaleru. ₹18 lakh have been sanctioned for repairs of all canal sluices on the South Feeder,” Ramanarayana Reddy explained.
He pointed out that proposals worth ₹9 50 crore have been sent for repairing the right retaining wall of Somasila. Chandrababu Naidu has directed that these works be started as well.
The minister said water is being released from Srisailam to Somasila, whose storage has already reached 26 TMC. He maintained that due to lack of water in Kandaleru, 2,000 cusecs of water is being released from Somasila to Tirupati.
Ramanarayana Reddy said the Chief Minister has directed officials to complete Padamati Naidupalle and Ponguru reservoirs and provide irrigation water to 20,000 acres this year.
The minister defended the decision to remove the names given to Sangam and Nellore barrages by the previous YSRC government. He maintained that the Telugu Desam government has completed 90 per cent of the works on these reservoirs.
