Amaravati, Aug 22: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu handed over Rs 250 crore towards compensation to Veligonda project evacuees under the third tranche.
In three tranches, the government has disbursed Rs 768 crore, an official release issued on Saturday said.
“Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu handed over compensation to Veligonda project evacuees. Under the third tranche, the CM handed over a compensation cheque of Rs 250 crore,” it said.
As part of the first tranche of compensation, 2,557 evacuee families received Rs 318 crore, followed by Rs 200 crore in the second tranche for 1,622 families and Rs 250 crore for 2,027 families now.
Altogether, 6,206 families received Rs 768 crore, covering 85 per cent of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) work.
“A three-decade-long dream of the people of Markapuram, Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts is going to be a reality with the inauguration of the first phase of Veligonda Project and release of water on August 31 by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu,” said an official press release.
The first phase of the Veligonda Project will provide irrigation to 1.19 lakh acres and drinking water to nearly four lakh people across Markapuram, Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts.
Addressing some evacuees at his camp office in Undavalli, Guntur district, the chief minister said the government had spent Rs 2,250 crore in two years to complete the first phase and bring it to the stage of releasing water, said the press release.
Referring to the prevailing water situation, Naidu said the state was facing a significant rainfall deficit due to the El Niño conditions and that inflows into the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs had been inadequate.
“Despite these difficulties, we resolved to complete Veligonda (project) and provide water to people. Water has to be used economically,” he said.
Naidu observed that the government was also working towards completing the Polavaram Project to strengthen water availability to the Krishna delta and conserving water in Srisailam (project) to serve Prakasam, Nellore, Kadapa and the Rayalaseema regions.
The CM said he had proposed the Ganga-Godavari-Cauvery river linking initiative at the Southern Zonal Council meeting, stating that linking five rivers could address water problems across four states and enhance the country’s water security.
Further, Naidu noted that the foundation for a horticulture hub would be laid in September, and added that Ramayapatnam Port would provide farmers with an opportunity to export horticultural produce, creating new avenues for agricultural growth and incomes.
According to the CM, the previous YSRCP government had severely damaged the state’s finances.
But he underscored that despite financial constraints, his government was implementing several welfare programmes. (PTI)
