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Mission Kakatiya Is Boon to farmers in Bangaru Telangana
Highlights
Tanks were the main source of irrigation in Telangana for centuries. Over a period of time, due to lack of proper maintenance and siltation, most of these tanks have either shrunk or become defunct. Reduced availability of surface water has resulted in over stress on the available ground water resources.
Tanks were the main source of irrigation in Telangana for centuries. Over a period of time, due to lack of proper maintenance and siltation, most of these tanks have either shrunk or become defunct. Reduced availability of surface water has resulted in over stress on the available ground water resources.
Monsoon rains have been unevenly distributed and 85% of cultivated area in the state is rain-fed. The topography and rainfall pattern in Telangana has made tank irrigation an ideal type of irrigation, storing and regulating water flow for agricultural use. The enormous number of inscriptions at tank sites and in temples proclaims the active role of Kakatiya, Qutubshahi and AsafJahi kings in the construction of tanks. In the state, there are about 46,531 minor irrigation sources irrigating a total area of 10.17 lakh hectares.
The tank system has been critical to growth of agriculture in the state, contributing to soil and water conservation, flood control, drought mitigation, livestock and domestic uses, recharge of ground water, microclimate and protection of environment. Access to irrigation infrastructure for the poor people allows them to enhance their crop production and broaden the opportunities to diversify their income base, reducing the vulnerability caused by the seasonality amidst the threats of climate change.
Telangana has widely diversified farming base with large variety of crops, which include food, horticulture and cash crops. The cultivable land is about 67% of the total geographical area, 60% of which is under food crops. Paddy is the predominant food crop and is sown in 25% of the cultivated area. Pulses occupy 18% area followed by sorghum and maize which accounts for 14% of the cultivated area. Groundnut, cotton, castor, sunflower, sesamum and sugarcane are other important crops grown in the State.
Considering the aforementioned issues related to the tank irrigation, the Government of Telangana State has taken up the massive programme of restoring all the 46,531 minor irrigation sources under the name “Mission Kakatiya” (ManaVooru– ManaCheruvu) in a decentralized manner through community involvement. The Government is aiming to complete the restoration of all the tanks in the next five years at an estimated cost of Rs. 20,000 crores.
• Restoration of the tanks would involve the following components.
• Silt Removal and Silt Application
• Restoration of Feeder Channel to the tank ( Part of chain of tanks)
• Repairs to Bund , Weir and Sluices
• Re-sectioning of Irrigation Channels and Repairs to CM & CD works.
Mission Kakatiya Dashboard
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All the 46,531 tanks are proposed to be rehabilitated, at the rate of about 1/5 number of tanks per year, in a span of 5 years starting from 2014 – 15 onwards. The State is committed to ensure restoration of all the irrigation tanks in the next five years in a phased manner.
Command Area Development
Department takes up studies under three major project commands viz., Nagarjunasagar Left Canal Command, Sriramsagar Project Command, Jurala Project Command area to:
• Delineate areas already water logged and prone to water logging
• Recommend conjunctive use of both surface and ground water
• Suggest other suitable remedial measures to improve productivity
Identification of tanks
• The District Minister/ local MLA/MLC/Public representatives will be approached to identify priority order for restoration of local tanks.
• Mandal Assistant Executive Engineer will submit the list of tanks under his Jurisdiction (along with their ayacut) to concerned officials / public representatives.
• Identify tanks for which repair works have already been taken up under programme like CBTMP, RRR & Normal State Plan, along with type of the repairs taken up.
• Preference will be given to tanks which have greater ayacut and good source of water.
• Tanks which have not been covered under any programme will be given priority.
• The chain of tanks in Mandal will be identified in the 1stphase. Repairs/ Re-sectioning of Feeder channel and Silt removal in the tanks will be taken up as priority basis.
• One urban tank at constituency Head Quarters will be taken up and developed as Mini Tank Bund.
G.Rajendra Kumar
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