Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister D Umamaheswara Rao has said that the multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project conferring benefits to upland areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts, is expected to be completed by 2018.

He also assured that all works on the right bank canal of the project will be finished by June 2017.

"The state government is taking all necessary steps to complete the Polavaram project by 2018. Works on the right bank canal of Polavaram project will be completed by June next year providing drinking as well as irrigation water to East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts of the state," Rao told reporters yesterday at the 'Anam Kala Kendra' in Kakinada.

He said the wastage which was overflowing into the sea, after usage of water for two crops in East Godavari district will be diverted to Krishna delta through Pattiseema project.

Works of Handri-Galeru and Nagari projects in Rayalaseema too are in full swing to supply water to irrigation sources to drought-prone Rayalseema region, he added.

Tenders have been completed for Vamsadhar first and second phase works, Rao said adding that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to spend Rs 300 crore towards land acquisition for various projects.

Naidu is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Water Resources minister Uma Bharati and urge them to release funds for completion of the projects at the earliest.

State Deputy Chief Minister N Chinnarajappa said during the last two years Rs 14,000 crore have been spent for projects and protection of water resources in the state.