Mission Bhagiratha works will be completed by this year end: CM

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has reminded that Mission Bhagiratha works are going on in tune with the challenge made that if all the habitations in the State do not get pure drinking water in the State, the TRS will not contest the next general elections.

KCR said such a challenge is never made in the country and hence the works should be done in accordance with the task and people should get the protected drinking water thereby enhancing the prestige of the government. The CM wanted supply of drinking water to the villages should be completed by this December and before that all the intake wells and water treatment plans should be completed to supply water to the people. Works on pumps should begin by September and by December cent percent works should be completed. He said since Mission Bhagiratha is a life and death question for the Telangana government, officials, public representatives and working agencies should work day and night to accomplish the task. He said the government is ready to solve any problem however small it is and he wanted such issues to be brought to the notice of the government to resolve the same.

The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting on the Mission Bhagiratha at Pragati Bhavan here on Thursday. Deputy CM Kadiam Srihari, Ministers Etela Rajender, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Indrakaran Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Jagadeeshwar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, Mahender Reddy, Deputy Speaker MS Padma Devender Reddy, Mission Bhagiratha Vice Chairman Vemula Prashanth Reddy, MLAs Errabelli Dayakar Rao, C Rammohan Reddy, Manchireddy Kishan Reddy, Sudhir Reddy, Bajireddy Goverdhan, MP Capt Laxmikanth Rao, Chief Secretary SP Singh, Secretary Smita Sabharwal, E-in-C Surender Reddy, SPDCL CMD Raghuma Reddy, Director Srinivas Reddy, senior officials and representatives of working agencies participated.

KCR said that for the first time in the country, this scheme is implemented at a cost of Rs 43,000 Crore. Since this is the biggest challenge, he said he would visit the field sites. The CM also advised MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other public representatives to supervise the works in their segments and visit the work sites.

The Chief Minister has discussed at length, on works going on intake wells, water treatment plants, power supply, working agencies working methods, laying of pipelines, water levels in the reservoirs, internal works and other such matters. The officials informed that out of 19 intake wells 16 were over and the rest would be completed soon. Out of 50 water treatment plants, 15 were over, 27 were about to be completed and the work on rest of 8 were progressing. Of the 49,238 Kms length pipelines, 43,427 KMs is ready (88 per cent). Of 421 Sumps, 247 were over, of 143 GLBR, 73 were over, of 562 OHBR, 192 were completed, of 248 Pump Houses, 51 were over and the rest would be completed in a few days, the officials said.

The officials also informed that the construction of sub stations, power lines and transformer lines works under taken by the electricity department are being done as per the schedule. They said except the internal works in the villages, all the works would be completed by December.

The CM suggested that all the works should be completed by December and safe drinking water should be given to all the villages as a new year’s gift on January 1. Later after six months, all the works like laying the pipelines, construction of the water tanks, fixing of taps should be completed. He wanted water to be pumped from the intake wells through WTP. There may be initial hiccups, they should be overcome and solve all the issues that crop up during the execution of the work.

“By the time intake wells and water treatment plants are ready, power should be supplied to them and accordingly, sub stations should be completed. Allocation of power also to be done and uninterrupted power supply should be ensured. Appoint three officers, each from TS Transco, SPDCL and NPDCL for monitoring Mission Bhagiratha works,” the CM suggested.

“Drinking water will be given priority while utilising the water from the reservoirs and this is the reason why we have earmarked 10 per cent of the water in the projects to drinking water purposes and brought in Act. We will allocate 10 per cent of water in all the barrages and reservoirs in the State to Mission Bhagiratha. For this, the Minimum Draw Down Levels (MDDL) should be maintained. Prepare estimates on this in consultation with the irrigation department and decide what MDDL level should maintain in which reservoir and barrage. For this change the project operation manual. Of the 19 water resources points, only at Dummugudem water is available 365 days. Hence to maintain MDDL levels in other 18 places would be crucial,” the CM said.

“We have prepared Mission Bhagiratha programme, keeping in the needs for the next 30 years. Accordingly, water should be supplied to people in the villages as per their needs. If need be, increase the number of Tanks and capacity of the pipelines. For this, ministers and MLAs should have meeting with the officials and take decisions,” the CM said.