Govt to take up Veligonda project works on priority basis

Dornala: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu started his two-day tour in Prakasam district by inspecting the Veligonda project along with irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao on Friday.

Naidu restarted the project works by the new contractor and conducted review meeting with the officials and engineers. He said that it takes about 15 to 20 days to repair the damaged tunnel belt and restart the boring works.

He assured that the state government will take up Veligonda project on priority basis and will complete it as announced at any cost.

He said that the works of Rs 4,532 crore in the Rs 5,564 crore budget of the project were completed and about Rs 650 crore funds were due from the government.

He said that the cost may be enhanced again due to the negligence of the contractors in completion of the project as per schedule.

The chief minister said that five of the seven packages will be completed by February 2019.

He assured that the government will lift the water to western area of the Prakasam district, if the 3-km of the first tunnel was not complete by February, to keep the promise.

He said that he will review the works of Veligonda project on weekly basis to make sure that the works were completed as per the plan.