KAKINADA: Minister for water resources Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao on Tuesday assured farmers and other sections of the people who stand lose their lands due to irrigation projects that they would be adequately compensated and rehabilitated as per the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Mr Rao told reporters that the land oustees of Purushottampatnam scheme would get good compensation for their lands and discussions were on with farmers, Rajanagaram MLA P. Venkatesh, Pithapuram MLA S.V.S.N. Varma, finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and others to arrive at determine appropriate compensation.

He condemned the criticisms of the Purushottampatnam LI scheme saying that it would be more useful for the upcoming Polavaram project. Mr Rao said that water can be released through Polavaram project by 2019. He lashed out at YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Rajya Sabha Member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy, Congress leader K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao and former MP Vundavilli Arun Kumar who made adverse remarks against Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project.


“Jagan and the others have no knowledge about irrigation projects,” Mr Rao said. The minister said that due to the project, lakhs of acres of crops have been protected. He said that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy can never become the Chief Minister and he would remain as “Airport Chief Minister”.