GO for widening HNSS main canal issued.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the occasion of his 68th birthday recently, announced and issued the GO for widening the HNSS main canal. This will facilitate drawing of higher quantum of water during floods at the Srisailam dam.

Addressing a public meeting at Pamidi mandal headquarters after inaugurating a pylon commemorating the work done under the Neeru-Pragathi programme and launching the work on a farm pond, Mr. Naidu said he would celebrate his birthday in Anantapur district until the region was ‘free from drought.’

“We were able to draw 2,000 cusecs through the existing HNSS canal system. After widening, it will go up to 5,000 cusecs when the availability is higher during flood time,” said Mr. Naidu even as he set a time frame of three months to Collector and officials for completion of the HNSS project.

Declaring that elimination of poverty in the district was his life’s aim, Mr. Naidu said ₹570 crore was disbursed as input subsidy last year and that ₹1,030 crore would be given as input subsidy and weather-based insurance this year.

“It is my determination to provide water to Rayalaseema and drive away drought permanently.

“I will complete the Polavaram project by 2019 and realise this dream,” he said.

The government had given directions for desilting 30,000 check dams besides construction of another 20,000 this year.

Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Shilparamam building at the municipal park christened the ‘National Park’.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu also planted a sapling there and stressed the need to increase green cover in the State.

Ministers Lokesh, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Kaluva Srinivasulu and Paritala Sunitha; and Anantpaur MP J.C. Diwakar Reddy were among the leaders who participated. Party legislators and district Collector Kona Sashidhar also attended the programmes organised at Pamidi and Anantapur.

THE HINDU