The recent heavy and record-breaking downpour that lashed the state wrought untold misery and destroyed private and public property. However, the historic tanks that were spruced up as part of the Mission Kakatiya remained shatterproof. The indestructible tanks remain part of the success story of the Mission Kakatiya programme launched by the ruling BRS government.
There were a total of 46,531 water bodies in the state and of them 12,000 are interlinked like a chain. The rest are small ponds. The state government took up desiltation and strengthening of bunds on tanks with an ayacut of 5,000 to 10,000 acres. At the rate of 20 per cent per year, a total of 27,627 tanks were revived with an estimate of Rs. 9,155 crore. These works resulted in increased water holding capacity of the tanks, revived fish production and impacted the rural economy. The efforts prevented the breaching of tanks and consequent problems.
The recent rains damaged 155 small ponds as they were breached. Most of the water bodies remained indestructible following regular monitoring and repairs. Unlike in the past, the breached tanks are being restored within 15 days, said Engineer-in-chief (Operations and Maintenance) Mr Nagender Rao. The state government has given powers to engineers to spend up to Rs. One crore as and when required for repair and maintenance of waterbodies within their jurisdiction. The officials are happy as the tanks taken up under the Mission Kakatiya remain undamaged even in heavy downpours and flooding.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao