Jagan to meet Naveen Patnaik, discuss Neradi barrage

The Chief Minister held a preparatory meeting with officials at the camp office here on Monday on the agenda to be discussed with the Odisha Chief Minister. He will explain the benefits of the Neradi barrage to both states. The officials informed the Chief Minister that 103 acres of land are required from Odisha for the construction of the barrage of which 67 acres is the riverbed area. They added that the barrage will provide immediate irrigation facilities to 5,000-6,000 acres in the Odisha region.

Regarding the Janjhavathi project, the officials informed the Chief Minister that the water for cultivation is being provided to only 5,000 acres of the total 24,640 acres through the rubber dam. The completion of the project will benefit more farmers, they said adding that it will leave four villages completely and six villages partially flooded. They said nearly 1,174 acres of land in Odisha will be inundated due to the project of which 875 acres is government land. Jagan will request Naveen Patnaik to co-operate with R&R.

The officials explained the recent developments in Kotia cluster of villages. Vizianagaram district collector Suryakumari said that 16 out of 21 villages have decided to stay with Andhra Pradesh and added that elections were also held in those villages. They said 87% people in Kotia cluster of villages are tribal and there should be no hindrances in providing services to them.

Chief secretary Dr. Sameer Sharma, DGP Gautam Sawang, Home secretary Kumara Vishwajit, water resources secretary J. Shyamala Rao, water resources department ENC Narayana Reddy, and Vizianagaram district collector A. Surya Kumari were present at the meeting.