Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao said that the first watershed programme being taken up in Telangana State under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Godrej in association with NABARD at an estimated cost of ₹ 3.96 crore would irrigate as much as 3,305 hectares at Mandapur, Kondapur, Gollapally and Munigadapa villages in Gajadev mandal.
Mr. Harish Rao, along with representatives of Godrej and NABARD, laid foundation stone for the construction of a mega watershed project at Mandapur on Monday. Later addressing a gathering, Mr. Harish Rao said that everyone should cooperate in successful implementation of the project . “We can take up some more watershed projects under CSR programme if this is successfully implemented,” he said stating that the farm sector could not reach its potential in productivity due to non-availability of sufficient water during the fag end of cropping season.
“Catch the rain where it falls and ensure complete groundwater recharge. Take up water and soil conservation,” he advised the villagers.
Informing that the government has been according top priority for the farming sector, the Minister said that drip and sprinkler systems are being extended to farmers across the State at an estimated cost of ₹ 1,000 by the government.
P.N. Satya Prasad, General Manager, NABARD, said that they have developed as many as 1,751 watershed projects across the nation at an estimated cost of ₹ 1,843 crore benefiting about 20 lakh hectares. He also stated that NABARD has taken up sustainable development plans for 147 completed watershed projects in Telangana with an outlay of ₹ 22.7 crore. G. Satyanadh and Prasad Jakkaraju of Godrej said that the only way to save earth is to recharge it with precious water resource.
Lok Sabha member K. Prabhakar Reddy, GADA special officer M. Hanumantha Rao, NABARD AGM G. Ramesh Kumar, PEACE, an NGO and others were present.
