Anantapur: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the foundation stone for Pattiseema project was laid on March 29 and it would be completed by August 15. “Already, eight sumps have been completed,” he said. He warned the contractors that they would blacklisted if they failed to deliver works in time. He reiterated that the prestigious Polavaram project would be completed before the next general elections.

Naidu inspected Jeedipalli and Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir (PABR) in the district, by aerial survey on Friday. Later, he visited pump-house of the reservoir and aqueduct. Addressing a public meeting, the Chief Minister said efforts would be made to supply equipment for drip and sprinkler irrigation with 90 per cent subsidy to the poor.

tried to convince Chief Minister of Karnataka to dig parallel canals from Tungabhadra to PABR. But he did not agree. However, they agreed to modernise the canals,” the CM said. These modernisation works would commence soon and the district would get 30-40 tmc ft of additional water, he added.

He assured the people to make Rayadurgam a green-zone and bring irrigation water to Kalyanadurgam and Uravakonda. Responding the news of suicide by a farmer at Uravakonda in the district, the CM expressed grief over the incident and called upon the farming community not to take such extreme steps.

He said the people responsible for the farmer’s death would be punished, if found guilty. Administrative reforms would be initiated to contain such incidents, he added.Irrigation Minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Chief Whip Kaluva Srinivasulu, Whip Yamini Bala, MPs J C Diwakar Reddy, Nimmala Kishtappa, MLCs Payyavula Keshav, Mettu Govinda Reddy and others were present.