To provide water for cultivation in Nizamabad district, there is no alternative to Mallannasagar reservoir as inflows into Singur and in turn, into Nizamsagar has almost stopped, said T. Harish Rao, Minister for Irrigation and Marketing.
“Manjeera river is seldom getting water resulting in severe drought in its catchment area. To combat this situation, diversion of the Godavari water into Nizamsagar through the proposed Mallannasagar project is the only option. Thus, the Mallannasagar has no substitute,” said the Minister.
Addressing a well-attended public meeting here in Jakranpally mandal after laying the foundation to Guthpa Lift Irrigation Scheme expansion works on Tuesday, he said that with these works undertaken with an outlay of Rs. 23.80 crore, an additional 2,642 acres could be given water.
Admitting that with the diversion of Manjeera water to Hyderabad for drinking purpose, farmers of Medak and Nizamabad districts were badly affected, and also since the Krishna and Godavari water was being given to the State capital, the Chief Minister declared that henceforth Singur water would exclusively cater to the two districts.
Nevertheless, the Nizamsagar reservoir needs to be filled with the Godavari water to enable farmers reap two crops in a year. To irrigate one crore acres with Godavari and Krishna waters the Chief Minister was in support of redesigning the projects across the two rivers, he said. Mr. Harish Rao said that a whopping Rs. 25,000 crores was being allocated for irrigation projects in the budget every year to expedite the works..
Rajya Sabha member D. Srinivas called upon the people to strengthen the leadership of K. Chandrashekar Rao for the overall development of the State, and added that Mr. Rao had a great vision and he was taking the decisions with foresight. Nizamabad [rural] MLA Bajireddy Govardhan presided. MP K. Kavitha, ZP Chairman D. Raju, MLCs V.G. Goud and R. Bhoopathi Reddy and MLA A. Jeevan Reddy were also present.
