Vemulawada water project remains a distant dream

Project of lifting LMD waters to temple shrine was taken up in 2006 at a cost of Rs. 9.5 crore

Neighbouring Siddipet Assembly segment in Medak district is being provided with water from the Lower Manair Dam (LMD) reservoir in Karimnagar town for the last 15 years, but the ambitious project of providing water from LMD reservoir to Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Vemulawada temple shrine in Karimnagar district remains a distant dream.

The project of lifting LMD waters to the Vemulawada temple shrine was taken up with much hype in 2006 at a cost of Rs. 9.5 crore.

Incidentally, the devasthanam had also contributed its share of Rs. 3 crore for the execution of the project and the remaining amount was contributed by the State government. The authorities laid pipelines all along the route covering a distance of 35 kilometers.

Ironically, the pipelines got damaged in Venkatraopalli and other villages due to the SRSP flood flow canal works and at also Relief and Rehabilitation colonies of the Mid Manair Dam project along the road.

Due to the delay in the execution of the project, the project cost escalated and additional Rs 3.5 crore was sought for construction of sump, motors, generators etc.

Devasthanam sources said that the government is delaying the water project to the Vemulawada shrine in spite of several pleas to meet the growing demand of the pilgrims. During the summer season, the devasthanam was spending Rs. 20 lakh for supply of water through tankers. Now, with the prevailing drought conditions, the devasthanam will be forced to shell out more than Rs. 25 lakh, the sources added.

Official sources said that the project was delayed due to non-release of funds by the government in 2006. After much delay, the government had released funds, but by the time, the project cost had escalated forcing us to stop the work at the construction of sump-house, motor pumps, generators etc. Recently, the government released funds and we are confident of completing the project and provide water to the temple shrine before summer season, they added. Of late, the authorities are examining the construction of over-head tank on the Nampally temple shrine to ensure water supply through gravity to the Vemulawada temple shrine, the sources maintained.