Musi modernisation works taken up

Nalgonda: Modernisation works on Musi project is gathering pace. The Irrigation Department has decided to replace eight regulatory gates as the existing ones were affected by rust and damaged due to wear and tear. Speaking to The Hans India, Assistant Engineer of Musi Project Ramesh said that once the new gates were installed it would plug leakage of water.

He said that eight gates would be replaced in first phase and another 12 in the second phase. The replacement would begin from January 19. Modernisation of the project, he said, would definitely help in increasing the ayacut he said. The department had also taken up works to plug the leakages by filling cracks in the brick walls. Ramesh said they were using the same technology that was used at Nagarjuna Sagar project.

Leakage of water through the crest gates and damage of iron regulatory gates posed a threat to the dam for long. The Congress government in undivided state had sanctioned Rs 11.87 crores for modernisation of Musi. Out of this Rs 7 crore was being used for setting up of new regulatory gates, Rs 1 crore to develop lighting system on the dam and Rs 2 crores for laying of BT road on the earth dam.

The Musi Project, which was constructed in 1954 with water storage capacity of 645 feet, is second biggest water reservoir in the district after Nagarjuna Sagar Project. The total ayacut under left and right canals of the project is 30,000 acres and Musi is being used to fill 28 water bodies in the district. The irrigation project is the only source for drinking water to Suryapet with over eight lakh population.