Rs 16,000 crore for irrigation projects in next 2 yrs: Kiran

Anantapur (AP): Andhra Pradesh government is taking steps to bring 30 lakh acres of land under irrigation in the next two years by spending Rs 16,000 crore, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said here on Thursday. Speaking after inaugurating the Jeedipalli reservoir of Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti (HNSS) project in the district, Reddy said several irrigation projects, including Kinnerasani and Kalwakurthy, had been inaugurated since he became Chief Minister, and Rs 70,000 crore had been spent so far. `Anantha Venkata Reddy Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi` irrigation project aims at channelling flood flows of Krishna river from foreshore of Srisailam reservoir for providing drinking water to about 33 lakh people and creating irrigation potential of over six lakh acres. It will help the arid Rayalaseema. Officials said the project was first conceived during the British rule. Irrigation Commission of the Centre had identified Rayalaseema districts, including Anantapur, Kurnool, Chittoor and Kadapa, as chronically drought-affected way back in 1972. The inauguration function also marked the completion of the `padayatra` through Rayalaseema by state Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy. PTI