YSR’s dream project comes to life

With an objective to provide a permanent solution to the crisis triggered by TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's neglect of the irrigation sector and to bring relief to drought-hit farmers, late Dr. YS Rajesekhara Reddy came up with a massive irrigation scheme called ‘Jalayagnam’.

A few years ago, inaugurating the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti Phase II reservoir at Kalicherla, late YSR had said   “I have embarked on this massive project to see a smile on every farmer’s face”.

At that time ministers R. Chenga Reddy and G. Aruna Kumari, Member of Parliament (Rajampet) A. Sai Pratap, Chief Whip N. Kiran Kumar Reddy (present Chief Minister), Deputy Speaker G. Kuthuhalamma and local MLA Kalicherla Prabhakar Reddy were among those present.

But after YSR's sudden death, the project was shelved by the successive chief ministers citing various reasons.

YSR's one big desire was to complete this project and bring water to the drought prone areas  in Rayalaseema.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy today inaugurated the Phase 1 of the project by switching on the button and bringing to life YSR’s dream.

After a  long battle and pressure from the several people, the present government gave the administrative sanction to Phase I of the long-pending Handri-Neeva Sujala Project at Malyala in Nandikotkur mandal of Kurnool District. The outlay of the project has been set at Rs. 1,305 crore.

In the first phase, 14 tmcft of water from Krishna River will be lifted and conveyed through a 216 km long canal to irrigate 1.98 lakh acres in 144 villages of Kurnool and Anantapur districts. It will also provide drinking water to over 10 lakh people.

- Siva@sakshipost