Jala Yagnam

While there is abundant water of about 2745 TMC available for the state, only about 1700 M.W. of water is under utilization in the state, thus giving way to huge quantum of water to go waste into the ocean. About 4000 TMC has been going out waste following heavy rains and floods. To utilize as much of water as possible by construction of river projects and bring millions of acres of lands under cultivation in Krishna-Godavari basin. The State Government has initiated a series of 26 important irrigation projects and 4 major projects under Jayalagnam programme at huge expenditure of rs.46,000 crore, which are envisaged to bring Ten Million acres of lands under cultivation, including stabilization of 3.5 million acres of existing

ayacut apart from providing drinking water to 12 million people in towns and villages across the irrigation canals and generating 2700 M.W. of Power.It is planned to complete eight of these projects within 2 years, thus bringing 16.58 lakh acres aunder cultivation.These are Vamsadhara Stage-2 Phase-1, Tatipudi Lift. Pushkaram Lift, Telugu Ganga, Somasila, Chokkarao Lift Irrigation Project (Godavari Lift), Alisagar Lift, Gupta Lift. It is programmed to complete 18 projects within 5 years and provide irrigated water to a fresh ayacut of 5 million acres. Projects like Sripadasagar (Yellampalli), Chokkarao Project Stage-2 (Godavari Lift), Rajiv Sagar Lift (Dummugudem), Link Canal from Nagarjuna Sagar Project to its Reservoir, and Indira Sagar (Polavaram) are considered to be milestones in the history of State Irrigation. State Government is determined to complete modernization of Pulivendula Branch Canal and Muylavaram Projects as well as Lendi Project with 2 years. Linking of Godavari and Krishna by constructing Indira Sagar Project and Rajiv Sagar project across River Godavari would become a landmark achievement in the entire country, thus paving way to new era in water utility. By inaugurating the Janjhavati irrigation (Rubber Dam) project in Vizianagaram district, first of its kind tobe built with Austrian Technology, during the last week of December 2005, the State Government proved that it is a performing government, giving priority to farmer’s welfare. The State Government has sanctionedexecution of 110 lift irrigation schemes to create an additional ayacut of 1.62 lakh acres. During 2004-05,60 LI schemes were commissioned creating a potential of 43000 acres, besides revival of 160 LI schemes with an ayacut of 80000 acres. Rs.5200 crore MasterPlan of huge number of minor irrigation schemes is being implemented for creating an additional ayacut of 1.5 million acres, and stabilization of the existing ayacut of 5 lakh acres. The budgetary allocation to Irrigation was raised from Rs.1840 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.10,400 (40% of the State’s own revenue) for irrigation sector during 2005-06. An amount of Rs.1200 crore is being spent by the state government under A.P. Micro Irrigation Project to properly utilize the water resources without any wastage. Under the Drought Prone Are Programme, construction of 3540 watersheads was taken up in 11 districts. In Anantapur district where the drought conditions prevail in long spells of time, 772 watersheds are built to bring 3.31 lakhhs under cultivation.