Planning Commission approved 8000-cr Rupees Project Ananta for AP

The Planning Commission in the Month of May 2013 approved Project Ananta, a programme that looks for pulling Anantapur district out of the control of the perennial drought.

The Planning Commission has approved a 53000 crore Rupees Plan for the State, up by 8.2 per cent, compared to 48935 crore Rupees in year 2012.

Execution of Project Ananta

• The 8000-crore project will take a complete approach to achieve the target. The Commission is supposed to send its team to study the feasibility of the scheme.
• The Project would be funded both by the State and the Centre. After getting the Planning Commission nod, the State would consider starting similar programmes for other backward districts such as Medak, Adilabad and Srikakulam.
• A high-level team of scientists suggested that the district required a five year plan to take stock of the situation and prepare a plan to address issues such as natural resource management, crops and livestock.

The Planning Commission also agreed to organize a meeting in the first week of June to discuss the issue of allocation of gas to the State. The State Government has asked the Commission to allocate gas to tide over the power crisis.

What is Project Ananta?

Project Ananta is a mega plan of Andhra Pradesh to prevent desertification of Anantapur district and increase farm output through innovative technological interventions including satellite imagery to revive the lost rivers.

As per the Project plan, a group of scientists will find out the original course of rivers, streams and other water bodies in Anantapur. Once their course is identified, obstacles will be removed to ensure that rain water flows into them. This will help not only in reviving the dead water bodies, but also in the recharge of the ground water.