Suram Palem project delayed

rajahmundry: the much-awaited suram palem irrigation project is likely to be delayed further. according to irrigation department sources, the suram palem project was envisaged to irrigate 15,482 acres of land and to provide drinking water facility to about 19 villages with a population of more than 13,000. the project was expected to be completed by march 2003 with an estimated cost of rs 44.38 crore.so far the approach works of the reservoir have been taken up with rs 30 lakh. according to estimates, the project would enable a production of 15,000 tonnes of foodgrains worth rs 13 crore. about 2,000 acres of paddy lands and 13,483 acres of pulse-producing lands would be brought under irrigation. earth works of the dam worth rs 6.2 crore were to be completed by february and spillway works worth rs 15.42 lakh are expected to be completed by the end of april this year. so far, works worth rs 2.44 lakh have been started to meet the target of completing the project by march 2003, while spillway works worth rs 90 lakh have been completed. the works of main and branch canals were yet to be started, the irrigation department sources said. while 1,186 acre land has to be acquired for the project, the revenue department has so far acquired 448 acre and rs 1.1 lakh was deposited towards compensation for the land owners. however, several problems have cropped up as the landowners are demanding more compensation for their lands. one farmer has already brought a stay on the project works from court in the connection with the compensation issue. with the political parties too joining the issue, the issue of land acquisition for the suram palem project has become a hot topic. the affected people are threatening that they would not allow the project works to be carried out in the locations until their compensation amounts were disbursed. in the wake of the litigation and the demand for compensation, the irrigation department sources said that it would be difficult for them to complete the project before schedule.