Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu to inaugurate Thotapalli project next month

VIZIANAGARAM: Andhra Pradesh Rural Development and Housing Minister Kimidi Mrunalini said here today that AP CM Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the Thotapalli project next month.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating an onion subsidy centre at Cheepurupalli assembly constituency in the district, the minister said the project would benefit farmers in the Vizianagaram district who are suffering water scarcity during peak cropping season as well as farmers in Srikakulam district.

The AP CM laid the foundation stone for the project in 2003 and is is expected to irrigate 1.20 lakh acre of farm land in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, she said.

In order to irrigate Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, the government had taken up the Thotapalli reservoir project on the Nagavali river in 2003, she said.

The project timeline was five years and the estimated project cost was Rs 450 crore.

However, the project cost doubled due to abnormal delay in executing the project.

She said that as per the AP CM's instructions, the AP government is selling onions at a subsidised price of Rs 20 at all 175 constituencies in the state.

The AP government spends Rs 50 crore daily to provide onions at subsidised prices to the public, she said.