KCR wants proper use of Godavari water

CM reviews Kanthanpalli, Devadula project works

Eturunagaram (Warangal): Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has directed irrigation officials to make plans for proper utilisation of every drop of water in the river Godavari flowing through Warangal district.

KCR spent his day on the banks of the river conducting aerial survey and visiting Kanthanpalli and Devadula project sites along with review meetings with the irrigation, Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid and district officials.

He spent about one hour at Kanthanapalli village and about four hours at Devadula project site reviewing the progress of the projects. During the review meeting, the CM has opined that a large quantity of water from upstream SRSP and Godavari tributaries Pranahita and Indravati was going into the sea unused.

Hence plans should be prepared to make use of such water in efficient manner, he told the officials. He asked the officials to speed up the construction works of Kanthanapalli barrage across Godavari to ensure pumping of water for nine months from Devadula lift irrigation in the first phase. KCR wanted the project completed within in three years.

He told the official make plans to increase height of the barrage further to lift water from the barrage into Kakatiya Canal to address water and irrigation needs of Dornakal, Mahabubabad, Palakurthy and other areas in Warangal district.

He proposed to produce 250 MW power after increasing the height of the barrage.With reference to the opposition from the villages in submergence areas against increasing the barrage height the CM suggested to pay four times more compensation, Rs 5 lakh and a house. He wanted the officials to ensure less damage to the villages.

It might be noted here that Kanthanapalli project was started in 2009 with an estimated cost of Rs 1809 crore and the works were yet to pick up pace. Similarly, the Devadula project having two phases started in 2003 was moving at a snail’s pace. A point worth mention was that both the projects have received poor allocation of funds in the recent budget.

Kanthanapalli was given Rs 128.66 crore while Devadula given Rs 500 crore. The Congress senior leaders Ponnala Lakshmaiah and others demanded government to increase the funds allocation. KCR was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and Finance Minister E Rajender, besides district collector Vakati Karuna and irrigation officials during his visit to the places.

The tribals who were losing land under the Kanathanapalli project were asking 20 guntas land, Rs 5lakh for construction of houses, declaration of new habitation as agency village, said Dubbakatla Batukaiah, the leader of local tribal association.