Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has promised several measures to ensure 100 per cent irrigation in Telangana, particularly to eradicate fluorosis in Nalgonda and check migration in Mahabubnagar.
He promised to implement a 400 km long flood flow canal on Krishna from Jurala in Mahbubnagar to Pakala in Warangal by taking up a diversion anicut at Gurramguda, 10 km downstream of Jurala. A lift will be provided to pump water on the way for about 50 km as the canal will pass through the highest point in Telangana at Laxmidevipalli, which is at an altitude of 670 mt. Otherwise, the water will be carried by gravity all along in Nalgonda.
Mr. Rao said Adilabad and Khammam districts will also be focused by the government for creation of irrigation infrastructure as they had 48 per cent forest land and less than 40 per cent irrigable land each. There were several streams from Bhainsa to Kagaznagar in Adilabad which had to be exploited by constructing irrigation structures. An investment of Rs.3,000 crore was required for the purpose.
The State government will pay to its Maharashtra counterpart matching expenditure for construction of Lower Penganga project that will irrigate lands in Bela and Jainad mandals of Adilabad district. The Lendi canal and Kaulas Nala projects in Nizamabad district would be strengthened.
The Chief Minister added that Karimnagar will be made the rice bowl of Telangana with the aid of high quality irrigation network. The Nizamsagar project which in the past irrigated 15 lakh acres would be modernised. Its storage had gone down from 58 tmcft to 18 tmcft over the years.
He regretted that Devanur and Itchampalli projects could not be taken up on Godavari, but did not pitch for them.
