Resume talks with Odisha, Chhattisgarh on land acquisition for Polavaram, Kiran Kumar Reddy advises A.P. government

Former Chief Minister of unified Andhra Pradesh and BJP leader N. Kiran Kumar Reddy wants the Andhra Pradesh Government to resume talks with Odisha and Chhattisgarh and complete the land acquisition for the Polavaram irrigation project so as to increase its storage capacity to the fullest level.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy said the task of completing land acquisition and grant of package by the Centre would be easy as the BJP was in the power in Odisha and Chhattisgarh as well.

As many as eight villages in Chhattisgarh and four in Odisha were falling in the Polavaram project submergence area, he said.

“The Centre will bear the R&R component for the Polavaram irrigation project in Chhattisgarh and Odisha as mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. The Andhra Pradesh government should consult the neighbouring two States to complete the land acquisition,” he said.

“Andhra Pradesh will not be able to store water in the project to the fullest level without completing the land acquisition in Odisha and Chhattisgarh,” said Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy. Both the neighbouring States would also benefit if land acquisition was done, he added.