CM YS Jagan will inaugurate Penna Barrage in January: Anil Kumar

Nellore: Minister for Water Resources Dr P Anil Kumar Yadav said that the construction of Penna Barrage is expected to be completed by December-end and the Chief Minister would inaugurate the project in January.

Inspecting the project site on Sunday along with the officials and legislators, the minister said the project works were moved at a very slow pace for the last 13 years and the YSRCP government had speeded up them after coming to power.

Anil Kumar said that the former Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy had laid the foundation stone for the works in 2007 and the project was crucial for stabilising the ayacut in Kovur, Sarvepalli, Nellore rural constituencies in the district.

He also said the works were delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic and the recent heavy rains. He said around 100 tmc feet water flown via barrage highly was impacting the project works for several days. Measures would be taken to arrange all 57 crest gates at the barrage, said Anil Kumar.

The Minister informed that the Chief Minister has been giving top priority for irrigation projects in the district and said they were going to invite tenders for the construction of Mudivarthi submersible causeway under Kovur constituency with Rs 94 crore and also works would be started for modernisation of Kaligiri reservoir with Rs 21 crore. He said measures would be taken for the modernisation of Sarvepalli Reservoir with Rs 12 crore. The Minister said works of Kavali canal would be completed on time.

Anil Kumar informed that they had stored 60 tmc feet of water in Kandaleru reservoir for the first time and are planning to store up to FRL of 68 tmc feet taking all safety measures.

Pending works need Rs 50 crore and the state government released funds for the R&R packages and rehabilitation of oustees, he informed. Kovur MLA N Prasanna Kumar Reddy, Telugu Ganga Chief Engineer Hari Narayana Reddy and Vijaya Dairy Chairman K Rangareddy were present.