Hyderabad: Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Monday said that the TS government will not let Musi water reach Pulichintala dam in AP but utilise the waters in Nalgonda and Suryapet districts by reviving the old khatwas (small anicuts and check dams) and canal systems under Musi Project near Kattangur.
Addressing a public meeting at Nakrekal, the minister said around 60 tmc ft of Musi water went into Pulichintala dam this year and vowed that the entire quantum will be utilised in Nalgonda and Suryapet districts after completion of the ongoing modernisation works.
He said due to heavy rains this year in Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad and Nalgonda districts, Musi river was in spate but unfortunately, the state could not utilise the waters and had to release the surplus which joined Krishna river near Pulichintala Dam. He said the five tmc ft capacity Dam near Kattangur will be further developed and entire canal system under the project would be modernised along with old khatwas that were constructed during Nizam rule, so that all inflows to Musi are utilised within the state.
Accusing TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy of supporting the former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s move to construct Pulichintala dam built, Mr Harish Rao held Mr Reddy responsible for the speedy construction of the dam, which he said was built without concern about submergence of Telangana lands and only developed ayacut in Krishna and Guntur districts.
The minister said that by next June, water will for the first time reach Suryapet and Nalgonda districts from Sriramsagar Stage-II.
