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* Polavaram Project: Cm Jagan Mohan Reddy Directs Officials To Follow Up And Get Rs 2.9k Crore Reimbursed From The Centre

* Discuss With Centre And Create An Ad-Hoc Account For Funds To Increase The Polavaram Workflow, Cm Jagan Mohan Reddy To Officials

* CM Jagan Mohan Reddy Directs Officials To Take Measures To Improve The Standard Of Living In Western Kurnool

Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the water resource department officials to pursue and get reimbursed Rs 2900 crore owed by the Centre to the State for the works completed and bills cleared for the Pollavaram project.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy gave the direction to follow up on pending bills from the Centre while reviewing 27 projects under the Water Resource Ministry at his camp office in Tadepalli, Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

He also instructed the officials to discuss with Central government authorities to set up an ad-hoc account to have some funds so that the works would not be affected due to pending bills since the sanctioned amount would be subdued in the overall budget.

“We are just a facilitator of the project. They (Centre) are approving the designs, bills, payments, and so on,” said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister asked the water resource department to have a meeting with the Centre to remove the embargo on component-wise spending since it is affecting regular work.

Officials informed the Chief minister that ECRF's final design is about to be finalized, and the coffer dam completion target was kept at 31st July. But the rain and excess water inflow in the Godavari River have spoiled the schedule to complete the works. The lower cofferdam works, which were on schedule have also been disrupted due to early floods. Officials said that if the flood subsides completely, it will be possible to resume work in the first week of August.

In the Rehabilitation and Relocation (R&R) work, the officials told the Chief Minister that over 4,000 families will be shifted in one month, and houses are ready. Earlier 8,808 families were shifted, the one-time settlement given to 328 families, and 8,910 families are in the process of moving, according to the officials.

Regarding the irrigation projects undertaken in the Rayalaseema region, especially western Kurnool, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take measures to increase the surface water. “Actions should be taken to prevent the ongoing migration. At least one acre of land should be given to the landless, while irrigation and drinking water schemes in the area should be completed on priority basis. It would help people to spread out and prevent migration. Further, take steps to set up, ITI, Polytechnic, Engineering Colleges, and other educational institutions should be prepared,” said the Chief Minister.

The department officials also told the Chief Minister that Nellore Barrage and Mekapati Goutham Reddy Sangam Barrage would be completed by the 15th of August.

The other projects including Owk Tunnel-II would be completed by September, Veligonda Project’s head regulatory works second tunnel and by August 15th, B.R.R. Vamsadhara Project Phase II Stage-II by December, Vamsadhara and Nagavali link project by December are the scheduled targets.