'Sonia to inaugurate Polavaram project'

Congress president and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi will lay the foundation stone for the Polavaram project rechristened as 'Indira Sagar' in January 2005, chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said on Sunday.

The chief minister will lay the foundation stone for the Polavaram project right canal on November 8.

Addressing public meetings at Gokavaram and Jaggampeta near Rajahmundry, the chief minister said: "The project will cost the government Rs 10,571 crore and will irrigate farm lands to an extent of 7.2 lakh acres in Krishna, West and East Godavari, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, besides catering to the industrial water requirements of Visakhapatnam. The project will also cater to the domestic water needs of the surrounding towns connecting to the project."

That Sonia Gandhi would be invited to lay the foundation stone to the project within three-months time. Meanwhile, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the Polavaram project right canal on November 8.

The project costing around Rs 8,261 crore will facilitate hydel generation of 960 mw besides ensuring water to irrigate about 23 lakh acres in Krishna, West and East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Administrative approval for Rs 1,320 crore has already been accorded for the right canal and Rs1,353 crore for left canal.

"The project will cost the government Rs 10,571 crore and will irrigate farm lands to an extent of 7.20 lakh acres in the four districts besides catering to the industrial water requirements of Visakhapatnam. The project will also cater to the domestic water needs of the surrounding towns connecting to the project," Reddy said.