Warangal: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is on a two-day tour of Warangal, wants to complete the Godavari basin projects on priority basis.

He conducted an aerial survey at Kanthanapalli and Devadula projects on Sunday and held a review meeting with irrigation department officials and enquired about water reserves at specific places during the rainy season.

The TRS government, in a bid to ease the water problems of Warangal and Karimnagar, has taken up the completion of these projects at a war footing.

The CM on Sunday also spoke to people in the tribal areas and promised the government’s support for those who would lose land, livelihood etc. due to the construction of these projects.

He also sanctioned `1,05,00,000 for the Sand Quarry Labour Contract Cooperative Society and handed over the cheque to the members.

The CM also held a review meeting with the district collector, superintendent of police, Irrigation and Engineering officials along with officials of Kanthanapalli, Devadula and SRSP projects. He enquired about the progress of the projects and those that are needed on a priority basis.

Mr Rao is the third Chief Minister to visit the Devadula project.

TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the project in 2001. In 2008, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had flagged off the first phase of the project where plans were made for pipelines, pump house, tunnels and reservoirs. However, the works were not carried forward after that.

Thus the project, which was initially planned to be finished in two years, is still incomplete.

Once completed, the project will provide irrigation water to 5,61,229 acre in Warangal district, 14,100 acre in Karimnagar district and 45,671 acre in Nalgonda district.

Meanwhile, the required land for the project is yet to be collected. The project estimation too has gone up from Rs 7,626 crore to Rs 11,000 crore.