NIZAMABAD: The irrigation department is contemplating to strengthen all minor irrigation tanks in Nizamabad district. Maintenance of the tanks has been neglected for the last few years leading to encroachment. Cultivation area under the tanks has also dropped drastically.
According to official sources, there are 282 minor irrigation tanks which provide irrigation to more than 100 acres of cultivable land and 589 tanks wetting below 100 acres. Around 67,885 acres are being cultivated in the first category of tanks and 21,682 acres in the second category in Nizamabad district.
Earlier, the panchayat raj department used to take up maintenance works of the tanks providing irrigation to below 100 acres.
The TRS government has focused on all minor irrigation tanks. At present, all minor irrigation tanks will be monitored by irrigation department only. Under Nizamsagar project, there are 286 tanks providing irrigation to 12,433 acres in the district. But due to lack of maintenance, most of the tanks have become defunct. The storage capacity of the tanks has decreased in the last few years.
Meanwhile, high-level irregularities were reported in repair works of MI tanks in the district. Inferior quality of works led to breaches of tanks. People of Indalwai struggled to repair the breach to the water tank in their place due to recent incessant rains.
Speaking to this newspaper, irrigation department EE Ch. Anjaiah said they were preparing plans to strengthen water tanks. “We are ready to take up the works but are waiting for a nod from the government,” he explained.
To prevent the encroachment of water tanks and canals, construction of guiding wall is necessary, he added.
