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New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu hails KL Rao as visionary on birth anniversary
VIJAYAWADA: Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu paid rich tributes to KL Rao, calling him a visionary engineer who championed river interlinking for India's development over 50 years ago. Speaking at KL Rao's 124th birth anniversary celebrations in Vijayawada on Tuesday, Nimmala lauded KL Rao's pivotal contributions to iconic irrigation projects like Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Hirakud, describing them as invaluable to India's irrigation landscape. He highlighted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's efforts to advance KL Rao's vision, particularly through the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, which interlinked the Godavari and Krishna rivers at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore during the previous TDP regime (2014-19) generating Rs 50,000 crore wealth. He affirmed the coalition government's commitment to completing Polavaram by December 2027, ensuring water supply to North Andhra and Rayalaseema. The plan includes harnessing 200 TMC of 3,000 TMC of Godavari water that flows into the sea per annum, aiming to irrigate every acre in the State. Nimmala emphasised that irrigation is a service to farmers, calling it a matter of pride for the sector. He detailed the TDP's past investments in water resources, projects, and lift irrigation schemes across Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra, and North Andhra, contrasting them with the 'destructive' policies of the YSRCP regime.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Nimmala hails K L Rao as visionary behind India's water prosperity
Vijayawada: Water resources minister Dr Nimmala Ramanaidu on Tuesday praised legendary engineer Dr K L Rao as a visionary who laid the foundation for India's irrigation-led development, calling his contributions 'immortal and invaluable.' Speaking at the 124th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr Rao near the Irrigation Model Guest House at Durga Ghat here after playing floral tributes, he highlighted the late engineer's pioneering role in conceiving projects like Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Hirakud. 'Dr K L Rao believed that habitations thrive only with water, and prosperity comes through harvests. He is the reason we say today that dams are the temples of modern India,' Ramanaidu said. He added that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu continues to draw inspiration from Rao's vision and is committed to completing the Polavaram irrigation project by December 2027, ensuring water supply to north Andhra and Rayalaseema. The minister also credited Naidu with turning Rao's dream of river interlinking into reality through the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. 'If K L Rao sowed the seeds, Chandrababu Naidu implemented the vision,' he said, noting that the Rs 1,300 crore spent on Pattiseema had yielded wealth worth Rs 50,000 crore. He explained the new government's proactive efforts in water storage, ensuring 20 tmc ft of storage at Pulichintala since taking office. Ramanaidu urged irrigation engineers and department officials to work with commitment and dedication, stating that their service would be the most meaningful tribute to Dr Rao's legacy. The event was attended by Alla Venkata Gopalakrishna Rao, state president of the Water Users Associations Federation, Devaboyina Venkateswara Rao, chairman of the Krishna Eastern Delta Project Committee, engineer-in-chief A Shyam Prasad and other dignitaries.
