CM KCR holds review meeting on Kaleshwaram project

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao instructed the Irrigation officers to evolve a comprehensive strategy for maintaining the canal system in tune with the continuous water flow from the projects in Telangana which hither to was a drought prone effected area. He asked officials to get prepared in all aspects for maintaining the barrages, reservoirs, canals, distributaries, sluices etc.

The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on Friday to discuss on evolving a comprehensive strategy in the background and context of lifting water from the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project from July this year. Chief Secretary S.K Joshi, Principal Finance Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, CMO Secretary Smitha Sabharwal, Irrigation ENC's Muralidhar, Hareram, CE's Khalender, Shanker and others participated in the meeting.

"Telangana has been a drought prone area until recently. Water for Irrigation was available only through Sree Ram Sagar project canals and other canals just once in 3-4 years and that too for name-sake. Due to this reason for diverting water flow to agriculture fields the required maintenance of canal system was not taken care of properly. However, the situation is totally changed now. Irrespective of rain fall are not, water would be available in abundance in river Godavari through Pranahitha. Lifting of water through Kaleshwaram project will commence from this year July month. Water would be pumped from Medigadda to Sundilla, to Mid-Maner through Annaram, to Yellampally and from there SRSP project, to Mallanna Sagar and up to Kondapochamma Sagar. Against this background the Irrigation department has to get it self-prepared to carry out all this. Water would be filled with full capacity in to Mid Maner, Lower Maner, Yellampally, SRSP Reservoirs," the Chief Minister said.

KCR said that the gates and the sluices of these reservoirs have to be thoroughly examined and required repairs are to be undertaken on war footing. "The Gates are to be kept ready in such a way that they could be opened as and when required. The Flood flow canal, Kakathiya canal, The Lakshmi canal, The Saraswathi canal, the Gutpha canals, the Alisagar canals etc are to be kept intact. The sluices, Distributaries and regulators of these canals are to be examined thoroughly and the required repairs are to be under taken within the next twenty days on war footing and are to be kept ready for use. The required funds would be released immediately.

For supervising the water flow and diversion works, the required personnel from top to bottom have to be deployed. The complete canal system from beginning to end will have to be streamlined in all aspects in tune with water flow. Since the water flow along with the canals will be to its full capacity the bunds either side are to be maintained with full strength. For all these, a workshop needs to be organised with Irrigation department Engineers and also the strategy needs to be finalised," he said.

"There would be some teething troubles during the process of lifting water from Medigadda and flowing in to the reservoirs. To overcome these, necessary steps have to be initiated and taken up from time to time. The minor issues arising out of diverting water from barrages to reservoirs and tanks have to be overcome from time to time. It may take some time for flow of water from barrages to reservoirs and from reservoirs to agriculture fields. Till then care needs to be taken and where ever necessary repairs are required, they need to be taken up with proper maintenance," said the Chief Minister.