Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao on Monday said the TRS Government aims to provide water for irrigation to 1 lakh acres in every Assembly constituency, adding that the district would be the first beneficiary under the Kaleswaram project.
Water from the Kaleswaram project would reach Sri Ramsagar Project (SRSP) this year, enabling farmers to plant two crops every year, he said. The Nizamsagar Project (NSP) ayacut would be strengthened by diverting Godavari water through Mallannasagar Reservoir. Thus, the Nizamabad district would get water for an additional 4 lakh acres, he said.
Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation to modernise a section of NSP - undertaken at a cost of ₹67 crore - at Achanpally in the mandal, he said SRSP restoration scheme was launched with an outlay of ₹1,070 crore and the project would become operational soon.
Criticising former Irrigation Minister P. Sudarshan Reddy, who represented the constituency previously, he said the TRS government was doing more than the Congress. He said efforts to transform one crore acres into wet land had begun. A high level meeting would be convened to ensure sufficient quantity of drinking water to the town shortly, he said.
Mr. Harish Rao said members of Central Water Commission were thrilled by the Kaleswaram project and would be sending their engineers to study it. “Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has special affection towards Nizamabad district and wanted to ensure that crops can flourish here,” he said.
“Congress leaders are jealous of Palamur district turning green, as water was provided to 6 lakh acres under Kalvakurthi project. Work is moving at a brisk pace,”he said. The Congress regime could never provide water to such a great extent of fields, the Minister claimed.
Mr. Harish said water from Kaleswaram would be provided to parched fields of Bodhan,Yellareddy, Balkonda, Armoor and Banswada constituencies. Within three years, 20 lakh acres were irrigated and another 15 lakh acres would be given water in the years to come, he added.
MP K. Kavitha, MLA Md. Shakeel and others also spoke.