Accord top priority to land acquisition for irrigation projects: CM

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed the Irrigation department officials to focus on expediting acquisition of land required for the ongoing and pending irrigation projects, according top priority to it. “Works on projects cannot progress on the expected lines without land acquisition. Officials should accordingly, give top priority to land acquisition and complete the process,” he said. The Chief Minister gave the instructions during a review on ongoing projects in undivided Mahbubnagar district with senior officials on Thursday. The Chief Minister visited important project sites like Makthal-Kodangal-Narayanpet lift irrigation scheme and conducted an aerial survey of the ongoing works. He was accompanied by Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, C. Damodar Rajanarsinha, Jupalli Krishna Rao and others. He instructed the officials to take steps to ensure completion of the pending and ongoing projects as early as possible. He instructed the officials to coordinate with the local MLAs and MLCs so that the land acquisition process was completed speedily. It was the responsibility of the respective district Collectors to visit the field to complete the process on time. The State Government was prepared to release funds required for payment of compensation as and when sought. According to Irrigation Minister Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) issues would form important constituent of the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift irrigation Scheme and other irrigation projects in Palamuru region. Civil works would be taken up in a major way only after completion of land-acquisition related components. After the review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on progress of works related to the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and reservoirs coming up as key components of it, the Minister said major progress had been achieved in several components. Narlapur Reservoir reached 100 per cent completion, while 95 per cent works on Yedula Reservoir were completed. Works at Vattem Reservoir banks were completed and concrete and embankment works were in progress. In so far as the Karivena Reservoir was concerned, most embankment works were completed. A portion of the concrete works were in progress. Focus on Trunk Infrastructure The Minister stressed that available resources should be utilized mainly on critical trunk infrastructure that would yield maximum benefits.He directed engineers to prepare realistic work plans linked to clear financial requirements and timelines. He wanted them to act swiftly on court cases and ensured that stays on works were vacated. Officials were asked to furnish advance projections of monthly fund requirements so that financial planning could be undertaken more effectively. Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed officials to focus first on completing all land acquisition-related works. He wanted officials complete Part-A component of works, relating to land acquisition and R&R, on priority. Once that was completed, officials could move aggressively on Part-B civil works as spreading resources across multiple fronts would not serve any purpose.