HNSS Main Canal Will Be Widened, Says Minister Nagabhushanam Hoskote

Anantapur: Irrigation minister Ramanaidu on Sunday disclosed that the Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanti (HNSS) project main canal will be widened from the zero-mile stone at Malyala in Nandyal district towards Jeedipalli reservoir in Anantapur district with capacity to 3,850 cusecs. As the present canal can pump only 1,850 cusecs, it cannot meet actual needs of the drought-hit Rayalaseema region.

Speaking to media, the minister said though Rayalaseema region can draw 60 TMC feet, it cannot pump even 25 TMC feet from the backwaters of Srisailam during peak rainy season. He alleged that the previous YSRC government had badly neglected the (HNSS) project. “It did not even spend ₹500 crore on the project during past five years,” he pointed out.

Minister Ramanaidu, Finance Minister Payyavula Kesav and officials inspected the HNSS project main canal at different locations from Malyal and Jeedipalli reservoirs in Belaguppa mandal.

Ramanaidu underlined that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is firm on widening the HNSS main canal to draw at least 3,850 cusecs of water from Srisailam back waters through lift irrigation. The present situation of the canal was not enough to draw more than 1,900 cusecs due to its capacity. MLAs Kalava Sreenivasulu, A. Surendra Babu and HNSS chief engineer Nagaraj were present.