Kothagudem: Rickety Taliperu Irrigation Project spooks farmers

Kothagudem: Farmers who are living in the catchment area of Taliperu medium irrigation project are worrying about the bad condition of the damaged project and the Irrigation department has no funds for their repairs.

The Taliperu project was constructed long back near Cherla mandal headquarters in the Bhadradri-Kothagduem district to provide water to about 25,000 acres land under left and right canals in Bhadrachalam division. But for last several years the government has not been releasing funds even for maintenance of the project.

Out of 25 gates of the project, majority of gates' rollers and bearings have not been working as a result the gates could not be lifted fully. Safety officials who visited the project in 2017 had suggested changing of rollers and bearings of the gates immediately. Later mechanical engineers also visited the project and they also suggested for changing rollers, bearings, rubber seals, and breakers, bearings of plumber boxes and ropes of gates. Even the officials are unable to put grease to gates due to lack of funds.

According to officials, each gate has 8 rollers but majority of gates' rollers got damaged. If officials don't change rollers it becomes danger lifting gates during the flood time. Another worry is the upcoming rainy season when the project reservoir will receive huge inflows from Chhattishgarh and at that time there will be a need to lift gates but the condition of the gates is not such that they could not be lifted.

Another important thing is the 100 KV generator which is being used in emergency is kept a side due to lack of repair. The officials had sent proposals for new generator two years ago but sanction is awaited. The officials had sent proposals for Rs 5.9 crore for repairs of the project and for removal of silt in canals to the government in 2018 but till now there has been response from the higher levels.

Taliperu project deputy executive engineer K Tirupathi said, ''we have sent a Rs 50 lakh proposal for immediate repair works and waiting for sanction.'' He also said that another proposal for removal of silt in left canal to the District Collector was sent for sanction.