‘Jalayagnam’ project in deep water

By Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: Tall claims of the Congress notwithstanding, the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government is unlikely to accomplish its muchhyped “Jalayagnam” fully by the time it completes its term in 2009. Funds and requisite clearances apart, land acquisition for the massive project is proving an uphill task for the government causing lot of worry to none other than the chief minister himself. Of the total 5.16 lakh acres of land required for 31 major irrigation projects, the government could not acquire even half the land while same is the case for the 22 medium irrigation projects. As per the figures provided by the irrigation department authorities, requisition has been placed for acquisition of 2.75 lakh acres for the major projects while consent award has been passed in case of just over 20,000 acres, meaning that the acquisition process has been completed without any hitch. Besides, 22,201 acres of government land was also available for the projects. Take the case of Indira Sagar (Polavaram): while 5,123 acres of the required 8,997 acres for the left main canal and 2,125 acres of the required 3,129 acres for the right main canal have been acquired, there is virtually no progress in respect of the Polavaram head work for which 83,819 acres is required. With people in Khammam district, where the main work will come up, totally opposing the project as it will lead to largescale displacement, land acquisition here may not happen that easily. Major irrigation minister Ponnala Laxmaiah admitted that the land acquisition process for Polavaram was fraught with many problems but hoped all hurdles would get cleared as a lucrative relief and resettlement package has been announced. Irrigation secretary (projects) Satish Chandra told this reporter that besides alternative land, house sites and houses under Indiramma scheme, each displaced family would get cash compensation to the tune of Rs 4 lakh. “As we are offering the best R&R package, people are gradually willing to part with their land,” he said. It’s, however, not just the case of Polavaram where land acquisition has become a Herculean task. Other major projects like Sripadasagar, Mid-Maner, Devadula (Godavari Lift Irrigation Scheme), Veligonda, Penna-Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir, Pulivendula, Flood Flow Canal, Taraka Rama Teertha, Veligonda and Chitravati Balancing Reservoir are also progressing at a snail’s pace as required land could not be acquired so far. In case of Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project, inaugurated by the CM last month, over 7,100 acres of land still needs to be acquired to make the project fully operational, sources in the irrigation department pointed out.