Minister expresses ire over pending works at Veligonda project

Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu, along with a team of irrigation experts, inspected the Veligonda project works in Prakasam district for the second time in a week on Wednesday. He expressed deep dissatisfaction and ire over the incomplete works of dewatering in the feeder canal, collapsed culverts and twin tunnels damaged due to recent Cyclone Montha.

Speaking to representatives of the agencies that have undertaken the construction work and the officials responsible for monitoring it, he said, “The dewatering work and filling of the ditches must be done on a war-foot basis, but they have been pending for a week. It must be completed soon to deliver justice to the most backward and fluoride-affected district.”

“Since the coalition government came to power, the lining of 12,000 metre of the total 19,000-metre feeder canal has been completed. Unless the lining is done at a rate of 600-metre-per-month, the remaining 7,000 metre of lining will not be completed by 2026, which is the specified deadline,” Mr. Nimmala said.

He directed the officials to make arrangements to start all the works like lining and benching in the twin tunnels and complete them on war footing. He stressed that the feeder canal lining and retaining wall construction work, undertaken at a cost of ₹456 crore, should be started this month itself and completed by the next rainy season.

The Minister warned of strict action against anyone found guilty of dereliction of duty. Markapuram MLA Kandula Narayana Reddy, Giddalur MLA Ashok Reddy, Yerragondapalem TDP in-charge Erixion Babu, Irrigation Advisor Venkateswara Rao, Project CE Shyam Prasad, and senior officials participated in the programme.