Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that the chain of tanks constructed during the Kakatiya period, which was the main irrigation resource for centuries, must be restored to their past glory through Mission Kakatiya.
He said that an integrated plan has to be drafted to direct water, rainwater and regenerated water to the tanks. He wanted a comprehensive project report on rejuvenating the minor irrigation system and the system for interlinking tanks submitted within a week. He said the rejuvenation of tanks under Mission Kakatiya will be completed and objectives would be achieved only when all the tanks are brimming with water.
Mr Rao was speaking at a review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on Mission Kakatiya and minor irrigation system resources.
He said that 265 TMC of water from the Godavari and Krishna basins was allocated to tanks in Telangana in 1974. In due course, the tanks were destroyed and life was affected. “To provide water for their crops Telangana farmers spent lakhs of crores of rupees and dug more than 25 lakh borewells. Even then, agriculture faced destruction,” he said. He said 12,150 chains of tanks with 27,800 tanks were found in the state. “If water can reach the first tank in the chain, feeder canals can be readied to enable excess water to reach the next tank in the chain,” Mr Rao said. He said that the government was ready to provide adequate funds for this purpose. A workshop has to be organised with engineering experts to prepare a plan of action start works during the current season, he said.
