Madduvalasa second phase works move at snail's pace

Srikakulam: The extension works of Madduvalasa reservoir right main canal (RMC) are going on at snail's pace since December 2014. As a result, the proposed ayacut area lands are yet to get irrigation facility. Initially, the government proposed to irrigate 24, 700 acres of lands in Vangara, Regidi and Santhakaviti mandals through the reservoir.

Later it proposed to irrigate another 12,453 acres in G Sigadam and Ponduru mandals as part of second phase that is extension of canal. The government also sanctioned Rs 49 crore for this purpose and works started in December 2014 but stopped before one month. Later works again started in 2015 but stopped in middle. Same story repeated in 2016 and 2017 and not started again till date.

The total length of proposed extension canal is 50.10 kms distance but so far completed 14 km length in five years. Madduvalasa reservoir is receiving sufficient inflows every year from Vegavathi and Suvarnamukhi rivers. Despite sufficient water sources available and funds also sanctioned by the government, the works were hit due to land acquisition and technical clearances, according to sources.

Water is also being wasted in RMC due to breaches and leakages of canal bunds and officials often failed to arrest it. "For second phase extension works, land acquisition has been pending for the last several years only for 33 acres at V R Gudem, Narasapuram, Laxmipeta and surrounding villages in Ponduru mandal," said executive engineer (EE) of Madduvalasa reservoir project, V Pradeep Kumar to The Hans India.

For these lands, the government fixed rate and passed for compensation but bills yet to be cleared. So that land is not handed over for works," the EE elaborated.