Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao laid the foundation stone for Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project, the first major irrigation project to be taken up after formation of Telangana State, here on Thursday.
The project has been taken up with an estimated cost of Rs.35,250 crore and seeks to irrigate about 10 lakh acres in Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts besides providing water for drinking and industrial needs in and around Hyderabad.
It is planned to lift 90 TMC ft water from the foreshore of Srisailam Reservoir during flood days at the rate of 1.5 TMC ft everyday.
Speaking after laying the foundation, the Chief Minister promised to create irrigation facility at least in Mahabubnagar District under the project in the next four years. He also appealed to the people, to be affected by the project, to cooperate with the Government for taking up the works at the earliest.
He assured the families to be displaced by the project of providing a job each along with the commencement of works. The Chief Minister stated that three thandas would be displaced with the Karivena reservoir and the Government would construct 2BHK houses for all those who get displaced at the relocated site.
`Telangana's son is giving you the word to take care of you and even to show alternative farmland under the project elsewhere", Mr Chandrasekhar Rao said.
Later, the Chief Minister undertook an aerial survey in a chopper brought there for the purpose.
