Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Provide Financial Assistance To Government Of Andhra Pradesh For ... on 27 July, 2000
Title: Need to provide financial assistance to Government of Andhra Pradesh for protecting the flood banks of Godavari delta-Laid.
SHRI U.V. KRISHNAM RAJU (NARSAPUR): Sir, Godavari is the second largest river next only to Ganga. Just before confluence with the sea, at the Godavari Delta, there is one Branch of river called Vasista Godavari, with an old barrage which irrigates about four lakh hectares yielding agricultural produce worth Rs.2,000 crore, giving livelihood for 3.5 million people. However, this area is prone to floods and, therefore, flood banks were erected. Those banks have become dilapidated requiring renovation and reconstruction.
Keeping in view the importance of the Godavari Delta and to protect the farmers, the State Government had come out with a proposal for protecting the flood banks with rough stone pitches, revetment and protecting fertile lands from erosion, reconstruction of medium and minor outfall sluices etc. This is estimated at around Rs.50 crore. The project would also provide better communication along the flood bank from National Highway 5 at Sidantam to sea connecting Chinchinada bridge, Narsapur etc. I would, therefore, request the Union Government to kindly sanction the project and also to provide necessary funds for implementation of the project at the earliest.