Works worth `201cr to improve groundwater

Kakinada: Efforts have been made to improve groundwater level through Neeru Chettu programme in the East Godavari district, said the District Collector, Kartikeya Mishra.

While reviewing the Neeru Chettu programme works in the district with the water resources department engineers here on Thursday, Mishra said that special thrust would be given in 26 mandals in the district, where the water table was below eight metres. He further said that under this programme, as many as 1,635 works were proposed with Rs 201 crore in the district for 2018-19. He directed the officials to finalise selection of agencies by February 25 for the works below Rs 10 lakh.

Mishra also informed that Rs 84 crore worth works were taken up last year in the district and spillover works of Rs 42 crore were also to be taken up. The Collector directed them to start the new works, wherever water recedes and ready for other works with the agencies that were fixed to take up the works.

Mapping through drones was also suggested by the Collector. He directed them to identify the tanks of more than 50 acres area which requires de-siltation. He instructed the engineers to use this de-silted soil to dump in social welfare lands for levelling, construction of check dams and cascades in the agency areas. Joint Collector-2 J Radha Krishna Murthy, SE (Irrigation) A Krishna Rao, EEs and DEs were present.