Saibaba agrees to fund drinking water project

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram

 

Saibaba agrees to fund drinking water project

By Staff Reporter of "The Hindu"

 

PUTTAPARTHI, JAN. 2. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Sunday

announced that Sathya Saibaba (Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust) agreed to fund a

drinking water project for upland areas in East and West Godavari districts.

 

Dr. Reddy called on Saibaba at Prashanti Nilayam and after seeking his

blessings, he apprised the latter of the Government's plans to complete the

pending irrigation projects. He also discussed two drinking water projects.

The Chief Minister was also learnt to have sought Saibaba's financial

assistance for extension of the Pulivendula Branch Canal of High-Level Canal

(HLC) in the Vempalle area in Cuddapah district.

 

Stone laid

Lauding the services of the trust after laying the foundation stone for a

tourism complex here, he said it was arguably the only non-governmental

organisation that was giving funds on such a large scale to drinking water

projects. Saibaba had already funded drinking water schemes in several

districts in the State.

Saibaba had his own ideas to provide more funds for such purposes, the Chief

Minister said and thanked Saibaba for doing good to the State.

 

Special project

 

As the Penukonda, Madakasira and Hindupur constituencies were facing severe

drinking water problem, he had urged Saibaba to take up a special project, Dr.

Reddy said. However, Saibaba had questioned him about the availability of water

sources. Saibaba had promised to examine the request after an assurance from Dr.

Reddy that water would be provided to the scheme from permanent sources.

 

Later the Chief Minister told a press conference that Saibaba had expressed

happiness over the efforts being made by the Government for completing

irrigation projects. Handri-Neeva or any other irrigation project was not

discussed with Saibaba for assistance.

 

Asked about his pre-poll assurance of allocating 10 tmcft water to the

Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir, the Chief Minister said the Government was

exploring the possibilities of getting more water in short time from the

Tungabhadra HLC by modernising the canal.

 

Free power

 

According to a report from Cuddapah, the Chief Minister, while talking to

newsmen at Kondapuram, said the Government was committed to providing free

power to farmers and there was no change in its stand.

Dr. Reddy said all farmers would be given free power in the areas lacking

irrigation projects. Farmers, who cultivated crops by sinking borewells and

digging wells, deserved free power, he asserted.

Source:

http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010305490400.htm