NIZAMABAD: With tribals continuing their opposition to the redesigning of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project in Nizamabad district, the work has hit a huge hurdle.
Around 2,000 acres of land, including 1,200 acres of revenue and 800 acres of forest land will be submerged in Mopal mandal. In addition, 2,700 families will be dislocated under Kalpol, Yellammakunta, Manchippa gram panchayats and 9 tribal thandas.
Those affected staged protests in different modes and moved the High Court.
Originally, the 21 package of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project was proposed to have a 1.5 tmc ft capacity water tank at Machippa. In redesigning, the water tank capacity was increased to 3.5 tmc ft, which, if implemented, would result in the submergence of 9 tribal thandas and pose a flood threat to Manchippa village.
Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao cancelled his visit to Manchippa scheduled last week to inspect Kaleshwaram lift irrigation works.
Tribals have decided to protest during the minister’s visit, but intelligence inputs forced Mr Harish Rao to cancel the official programme. He had assured to suitable compensation to the victims of Kaleshwaram LI works in Nizamabad district.
Speaking to this newspaper, Nizamabad mandal parishad president Yadagiri said that redesigning was causing an adverse affect. State government has ignored aspirations of tribals in the district, he said.
Mr Yadagiri said that the people were not willing to give up their agriculture fields and houses for the project. “The redesigning proposal should be withdrawn immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress and BJP leaders extended their support to the tribals. They found fault with the state government and said that proposed pipeline works would impose an additional burden of Rs 2,600 crore on state exchequer. “A canal system would cost only Rs 600 crore,” a Congress leader said.
