Pocharam blames Karnataka, Maharashtra for low water flow at Manjeera

NIZAMABAD: Legislative Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said that the water flow in the Manjeera has been reduced due to projects being constructed upstream of the river in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The dream of a check dam on the Manjeera has been realised as Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has sanctioned it with an estimated cost of Rs 28.29 crore, he said. The four check dams sanctioned for Banswada Assembly constituency will improve the groundwater table.

He laid the foundation stone for the check dam at Birkur on Thursday and said that the former glory of Nizamsagar project would shortly be restored. In reverse pumping, Godavari water will reach the Nizamsagar project through the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme, he said. Water will reach Nizamsagar project from the Konda Pochamma reservoir and Haldivagu.

"We are expecting Kaleshwaram water will reach Nizamsagar in the next 15 days,” he added.

Srinivas Reddy said that a permanent canal with a capacity of 5,000 cusecs will be constructed from Mallannasagar to Nizamsagar soon. Eighty-five per cent of families depend on agriculture and sufficient water and power will increase the crop yield, he said and added that Telangana is the only state providing 24-hour power supply for farmers.

The state government ensured minimum support price to the agriculture produce, he said. He praised farmers under Nizamsagar project ayacut area for better yield in different crops.

A bridge was constructed across the Manjeera in Birkur against a Rs 100 crore budget and this has enhanced transport facility between Telangana state and Maharashtra, he said.  TRS senior leader Pocharam Surender Reddy, DCCB chairman Pocharam Bhasakar Reddy and others were present.