The Borancha Pochamma Lift Irrigation (LI) Scheme was inaugurated by Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday.
The LI scheme located on the foreshore of Singoor project in Manoor mandal has been pending since almost more than a decade. The water is lifted from backwaters of Singoor project which provide irrigation for about 2,900 acres spread in Borancha, Lingampally, Thatipally and Sindhole. The total project amounts to ₹ 69,712 per acre.
Water will be pumped for 42.77 metres in first phase followed by 56.71 metres in the second phase.
Addressing a gathering after formally inaugurating the scheme, Mr. Harish Rao said that the scheme was conceived in 2009 but neglected by earlier governments as they did not allot required funds.
Reverse migration
“The government has been according top priority for irrigation projects and as many as 154 lift irrigation schemes, that have become defunct, are being restored at an estimated cost of ₹70 crore. As many as four LI schemes will be restored in Narayanakhed constituency alone in the next three or four months,” said Mr. Harish Rao adding that water from Mallannasagar will also be brought here to irrigate as much as 40,000 acres under the Singoor reservoir.
The Minister said that already 1.44 lakh acres are being irrigated under the LI schemes in the State and another 1.23 lakh acres will be provided with irrigation once repairs were completed on various LI schemes.
“Narayanakhed is one of the most backward areas in the State and it witnesses large scale migration. We want to reverse it. It had already happened in the case of Singoor where some 700 families withdrew their ration cards at Hyderabad and had them restored at their native villages. The same will be repeated here,” Mr. Harish Rao said.
Though farmers are happy with the inauguration the LI Scheme it was not complete. “The canal works were not completed and it is not possible to get water to my field which is about one kilometre from the source. We cannot get the benefits unless the branch canals are completed. We urge the government to complete them on priority,” said Vithal, a farmer of Borancha.
