Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi from Kadapa

Kadapa: The aim of the government in supplying water for agriculture operations and drinking water for several villages in Kadapa , Chittor , Nellore districts seems to be a distance dream following incompletion of proposed Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (GNSS) scheme located in Kadapa district The GNSS is proposed to secure Krishna river surplus water from Sri Sailam Dam.

Following alleged irregularities taken place in the second phase of GNSS works, coupled with lack of coordination between contractors and district administration proposed construction was stopped in the middle. In this back drop the state government has proposed to call fresh tenders by cancelling ongoing works related to several packages.

It may be recalled that with the aim of providing water to 1.55lakh acres in Kadapa, 1.03lakh acres in Chittor, 1,500 acres in Nellore districts GNSS works were started during the regime of late chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy in 2005. The government has sanctioned Rs 560croes against revised estimated total cost of Rs 1760crores.

The first phase of the project was proposed to complete by 2012 with the aim of providing water for 35,000 acres in Kadapa district. Apart from construction of canals from 0km to 24.330km, and structures related to the Gandikota reservoir by spending Rs 360crores

Regarding to the second package it was aimed to spent Rs 300 crores for the construction of Vamikonda reservoir 24.330 Km radius, construction of tributary canals for providing water for another 10,000 acres.

However government records showed that construction related to the main canal of GNSS from 0. Km to 24.330 Km as the first stage of project was completed except some minor works as the administration was able to release the water for total 45,000 acres in Kadapa district.

Meanwhile following lack of coordination between contractors , local administration reasoned second phase of works taken up Rs 2,189.26crores related to 7 packages of which 1,2,3 packages proposed to taken under GNSS, while 4 and 5packages under Telugu Ganga project dropped in the middle.

Sources disclosed that there was some progress witnessing only in package 3 as remaining all yet to be started as government cancelled 3 packages out of 7 for the proposed project. However officials said that works stopped following non availability of forest permission.

In second phase a canal about 250Km length in Railway Kodur constituency was dig under 1 to 5packages . Sources said that irrigation department has sent proposal with revised estimatedcost of Rs 1000 crores for 1, and 2 packages each Rs 500 crores.

Meanwhile it is learnt that apart from package No 6, and 7, which were taken up under Telugu Ganga project in Chittor district also cancelled, and 4,5, packages which were endorsed to Kadapa district are also proposed to cancelled due to various reasons.

“ We are high hopes over the completion of GNSS scheme as there will be sufficient water available for agriculture operations in our area. But it seems it will not possible as there was no clarity either in contractors or in the government over the issue” P.Raghu Rami Reddy a farmer of Raliway Kodur said.

During his recent visit to the district chief minister N.Chandra Babu naidu who reviewed the GNSS with officials admitted that there was problem with central forest department in issuing the permission as fresh tenders would be called for completion of pending works.