HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday directed officials to speed up work on all lift irrigation schemes proposed on foreshores of Nagarjunasagar reservoir as well as in undivided Nalgonda district from Devarakonda to Kodad.
The CM further ordered that officials call tenders for construction of these projects by June 15. Minister Jagadish Reddy has been asked to coordinate with irrigation department for speeding up of the foreshore schemes.
Addressing a high-level meeting on irrigation sector at Pragathi Bhavan with ministers and senior officials, Chandrasekhar Rao pointed out that Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project has become a boon for Telangana state, as it alone irrigated 35 lakh acres of farmlands and enabled farmers to raise two crops a year.
He asked officials to fill all major and minor tanks, reservoirs and check dams in the state with Kaleshwaram water in the upcoming rainy season.
The Chief Minister pointed out that 90 per cent of tanks under Kaleshwaram remained brimming with water even during summer. This resulted in significant improvement in levels of ground water across the state. In this context, he said 50 per cent of total tanks should always be full with Kaleshwaram water irrespective of rainfall.
Rao said, "New irrigation facilities created by Telangana government have led to unprecedented increase in agriculture production. Crops are being sown in more than one crore acres. Even during the difficult Corona time last year, agriculture sector contributed 17 per cent to GSDP and remained as a backbone of state's economy."
Stating that water will be available from Yellampalli to Dummugudem till October-end due to Kaleshwaram, he directed officials to fill all tanks and keep water ready for farmers to raise a second crop during the Rabi season.
At the same time, the CM said, officials should ensure that there is no drinking water shortage in any part of the state. Minimum water levels must be ensured in all the reservoirs by coordinating with Mission Bhagiratha officials, he added.
