Jolt to AP river-linking project

Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, September 22

In a major embarrassment to the Telugu Desam Party government in Andhra Pradesh, the ambitious river inter-linking project has run into rough weather just days after its launch with a newly-constructed Polavaram Right Canal suffering a breach.

An aqueduct, constructed on Tammileru river stream near Janampet village in West Godavari district, collapsed within hours of the release of water into the canal from Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS).

After efforts of officials to arrest the breach failed, they were forced to switch off the motor to reduce the water flow.

State Water Resources Minister D Umamaheswara Rao had switched on the motor on Friday after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu performed puja and formally announced the launch of the ambitious river inter-linking project amid much fanfare on September 16.