Water missions inch towards fertile terrain

The Year 2017 is a ‘momentous one’ for irrigation sector in Telangana State. Despite facing series of hurdles from Opposition, courts and Green Tribunal, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government is moving ahead in completing the irrigation projects at fast pace.

Racing against the time, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao succeeded in completing decades old pending projects and also got clearances for the major projects like Kaleshwaram taken up by redesigning and re-engineering them after he had assumed office in 2014.

To ensure adequate funds for the completion of major and medium irrigation projects and revival of ponds under Mission Kakatiya, the government earmarked Rs 25,000 crore in 2017-18 budget. Considering Kaleshwaram a lifeline to Telangana, the government put all energies in completing the project by mid 2018. Land acquisition, forest and environmental clearances from the Centre and mobilisation of financial resources were completed this year. Chandrashekar Rao also embarked on the project visit for the speedy completion.

The project taken up on river Godavari will solve drinking and irrigation needs in seven old districts and also the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The first project completed by the TRS government was Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Project in Khammam district. The project was completed two months ahead of the schedule in January this year.

The project was designed to create ayacut facility for 60,000 acres in the district. The other long-pending Kalwakurthi in Mahbubnagar district was also opened for the supply of the Krishna waters to farmers in the drought-hit district.

Launching the long pending modernisation of Sriramsagar Project (SRSP) at Pochampad near Balkonda in Nizamabad, augmentation of the Devadula lift irrigation project, speedy works at Nettempadu, Bheema and Koilsagar in Mahbubnagar district and Dindi lift irrigation project in Nalgonda district are among the important projects under progress.

To provide good compensation to the displaced at the project sites, the government brought into force new Land Acquisition Act 2017 by modifying the Central act. The government fought against the Opposition on compensation in the courts. After the introduction of the new Act, the government succeeded in acquiring nearly 70,000 acres of land required for projects and reservoirs construction in all districts with the consent of farmers.

By: Patan Afzal Babu