AP Charts Action Plan for Balanced Growth Under Purvodaya Scheme

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday instructed officials to prepare detailed proposals for holistic development of three districts of Andhra Pradesh under the Purvodaya scheme.

Chairing a review meeting at the secretariat on the proposed Purvodaya and irrigation projects, the CM said the funds coming under the scheme should be used for irrigation, expansion of horticulture and strengthening of rural infrastructure.

As part of the initiative, the state aims to develop 82 clusters in Prakasam district and Rayalaseema into major horticulture hubs and expand horticulture cultivation to 20 lakh acres.

Naidu asked the officials to finalize bids worth Rs 40,000 Million, including Rs 20,000 Million for irrigation projects and Rs 20,000 Million for infrastructure works. Of this, Rs 5,000 billion will be earmarked for rural roads and uninterrupted connectivity will be provided with national and state highways.

The CM also emphasized the need to complete 23 large and medium irrigation projects and 1,021 tanks in Prakasam district and Rayalaseema to ensure reliable water supply for horticultural crops.

The meeting focused on the Polavaram-Nallamalasagar link project, the cost of which is estimated to be Rs 58,700 billion. Officials briefed the CM about the project and said that it will irrigate 7 lakh new acres in Nellore and Prakasam districts, stabilize another 6 lakh acres and provide drinking water to 60 lakh people.

Additionally, 20 tmc ft of water can be allocated for industrial needs.

The CM called for immediate initiation of works and approved plans to divert 200 tmc of Godavari floodwater from Polavaram to Bollapalli and Nallamalasagar and 50 tmc of Krishna floodwater from Nagarjunasagar to Bollapalli.

Calling for accelerated progress of irrigation projects in northern Andhra, the CM asked officials to prepare proposals worth Rs 5,000 billion for their completion. Stating that the region is extremely suitable for the production of palm oil and other horticultural crops, he called for the promotion of natural and organic agriculture in the agency districts.

A proposal involving Rs 169 crore to connect Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Champavathi rivers was mooted. Naidu stated that integrating the Hiramandalam reservoir with the Narayanapuram dam will help bring 5,000 new acres under assured irrigation.

Finance Minister P. Keshav, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu and senior officials from various departments attended the review meeting.