Mission Kakatiya is one of the best programmes introduced by a government post-Independent India and Telangana would lead the country in water conversation, observed K.V. Jayakumar, professor at National Institute of Technology (NIT).
A civil engineering professor and scientist of national repute, Prof. Jayakumar was Director of Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM). He and his students have been engaged in extensive study of groundwater in Telangana, particularly in Warangal district. He said the district was endowed with thousands of tanks – both natural and manmade. “Nowhere will you find these kinds of tanks. They are like a chain here and if one tank is filled, the water moves onto the next one. The historic Ramappa tank is unique as it irrigates more than its capacity,” he explained.
According to him, in the earlier days, farmers used to desilt the tanks and fill their fields with silt. Thus the tanks were revived which helped them hold more water until the 18th Century. Later, the Britishers started taxing farmers for using water and since then, they stopped drawing water from the tanks and stayed away from maintaining them.
But now, the TRS government has come forward to revive the tanks which would make the youngest State not just prosperous but lead the country in water conservation. “The State government should also involve and motivate farmers in maintenance of the tanks,” Prof. Jayakumar, member of the Indian Association of Hydrologists, opined.
He said that the government should also take the services of experts at NIT that offers consultancy services to scores of national and international organisations. “Telangana is the youngest State with oldest NIT. The government should harness the talent it has got here,” he added.
