By: K.M. Dayashankar
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday indicated that a new irrigation policy would be brought in soon to match the government’s plans to irrigate at least one-lakh acres land in every assembly constituency in the State.
Alleging that the irrigation sector in Telangana region was grossly neglected by successive governments in combined Andhra Pradesh State, the Chief Minister said the Telangana Government would soon announce Telangana Irrigation Policy with a long-term perspective and for the benefit of the region.
Injustice
“In combined AP, irrigation projects in Telangana remained only on papers even as Andhra leaders diverted water to Seemandhra regions, denying the rightful share of water to the people of Telangana,” he charged. The State Government would keep all facts and information before people on how injustice was heaped upon Telangana in the matter of irrigation under the reign of AP Chief Ministers.
The previous Congress Government had taken up Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation project without even getting consent of Maharashtra though the party was in power there and at the Centre, he pointed out. Instead of starting work at the off-take point of the project, canals were dug in Chevella area only to benefit contractors and Congress leaders, he alleged.
He reiterated that Pranahita-Chevella project in its present design would not bring water to Ranga Reddy district but the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project taken up now would irrigate the district, he assured. “Rs.800 crore was spent on Rajiv Sagar project at Dummugudem without constructing intake well or pump-house and Rs. 7,500 crore was spent on Devadula, which would allow lifting water only for 50 days instead of the intended 175 days as political leaders had decided where to construct barrages and where to dig canals, instead of irrigation experts,” the Chief Minister said.
Turning to TDP, the Chief Minister alleged that the party had enacted a drama on Babli project issue without even making any mention of 300 barrages constructed across Godavari and Krishna rivers by Maharashtra and Karnataka during its and Congress rule. As a result, the future of SRSP had become uncertain, he noted adding that Telangana could only depend on Indravathi and Pranahitha rivers now.
The government would construct a barrage at Kaleshwaram and fill Mid Manair and Lower Manair Dams through Yellampalli project. A LIDAR survey would be conducted from SRSP to Badrachalam to analyse availability of water along the stretch and take up projects accordingly. Necessary permission was already secured from Defence and Home Ministries for the purpose, the Chief Minister stated.
Source: The Hindu