The question that is widely being debated in the irrigation circles is whether the proposed Pranahita - Chevella project would end up at Kandi, five kms from here in Medak district, as part of its redesign. The officials answered in the affirmative when they were asked about the plan and even said the project might be renamed Pranahita - Kandi.
Interestingly, the redesign of the project was not only at the tail end but also at the head as the main barrage is being shifted from Thummidihatti in Kautala mandal of Adilabad district to Medigadda near Kaleswaram in Karimnagar district. On Thursday, the BJP organised a demonstration at Chevella protesting against the termination of the project at Kandi. The party leaders watered a few trees beside the foundation stone for the project, opposite Chevella bus stand, to remind people that they had planted saplings at the spot years ago in anticipation that they would grow up into trees but would never get project water.
According to sources in irrigation department, the revised design would not only provide more water for irrigation in areas that the canals will pass through but reduces the cost as well. As part of a reengineering of the scheme, packages 17,18 and 19 of the project would end at Kandi, 20 kilometres ahead of Ranga Reddy district borders. It was expected to irrigate lands in six constituencies- Siddipet, Gajwel, Dubbak, Medak, Narsapur and Sangareddy (part). Officials also said that there was no need to construct any storage point at Kandi as there was no need to supply water beyond.
When asked about providing irrigation to farm lands in Ranga Reddy district, the officer said that the Palamuru - Ranga Reddy project on river Krishna will take care of the needs. “New areas not covered by Pranahita- Chevella project will also be included”, he said.
The project was envisaged by late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at an estimated cost of Rs. 17,000 crore with a plan to irrigate 16.5 lakh acres across Telangana, including 5.19 lakh acres in Medak alone. The cost went up to Rs 38,500 crore within a few years.