: The State government is contemplating bringing out a legislation in the ensuing Assembly session to deal with those occupying tank lands, said Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao. All water bodies and tanks should be preserved in growing towns. They should be beautified to allow people to spend time there.
“The government will not tolerate those trying to occupy tank beds and the peripherals of water bodies in urban areas,” he said.
Mr. Harish Rao was in Hyderabad on Thursday to lay the foundation stone for civil works, envisaging the strengthening of Bhadrakali tank bund. The government had sanctioned Rs. 4.05 crore for the desiltation, strengthening of tank bund and sluice of the Bhadrakali tank under Mission Kakatiya. The Minister said it was sad to note that there was no water even at 400 metres under the ground in Warangal. If water bodies could be revived and restored, the groundwater level would go up and help sort out the drinking water problem to some extent. The State government has sanctioned Rs. 405 crore for Warangal district to restore 1,054 tanks.
