Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed the officials concerned that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Project, aimed at supplying water for irrigation to combined Mahbubnagar district, known as Migration district (for people migrating in large numbers from the district) and the famine stricken Rangareddy district should be completed cent percent by end of this year. The CM wanted the works on the Dindi project, which would supply irrigation water to fluoride stricken, deficit rainfall regions like Munugode, Devarakonda in Nalgonda district should be expedited and completed within six months. He said funds flow for these two projects would not be stopped and budgetary allocations would be made in this year Budget too. The CM also declared that a historic decision had been taken to empower local officials at various levels to sanction emergency works with minimum expenditure without them seeking permission from Hyderabad. The CM also announced that the Maskuris will be merged with the Water Resources department and they would be working, as Lashkar they will be given a proper training to utilize their services in the project management.
The CM held a review meeting on Saturday at PragathiBhavan here on Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi projects. Power Minister Sri Jagadeesh Reddy, TRS Parliamentary Party Leader Dr K Keshav Rao, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, MLAs GuvvalaBalraju, Surender, Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Rajat Kumar, CM Secretary MsSmita Sabharwal, Water Resources Department Advisor Pentareddy, E-in-C Sri Muralidhar, CEs Sri Mohan Kumar, Ramesh, Raghunatha Rao, SEs Anand, Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Umapathi Rao, Suryanarayana Reddy and others participated.
As part of the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, the CM reviewed on going works on Narlapur Reservoir, Pump House, Narlapur-Edula Canal, Edula Pump House, Edula-Vattem Canal, Vattem reservoir, Vattem-Karvena Canal, Karvena Reservoir, Karvena-Uddandapur Canal, Tunnel. The CM instructed that the final designs for the route from Uddandapur upper areas where the water would be supplied should be completed. The CM said by completing Kalwakurthy, Bhima, KoilSagar, Nettempadu, in the combined Mahbubnagar district 10 Lakh acres would get water and with Jurala water would be supplied to 11.5 Lakh acres. If the Palamuru project were completed, the entire Mahbubnagar district would become fertile. The CM reviewed works related to Canal and reservoirs under Dindi project.
- The CM instructed Principal Secretary (Finance) Sri Ramakrishna Rao to immediately release Rs 2000 Crore to pay the bills pertaining to Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme’s works.
- The CM asked Collectors of Nagar Kurnool, Nalgonda and Rangareddy to pay the compensation to those whose lands are being acquired for the both the projects. He wanted the farmers should be paid compensation as per the Acts and complete the land acquisition and hand over the same to the water resources department.
- The CM instructed Sri Rajat Kumar to bring in required Motors from the BHEL and monitor their installation. He wanted regular coordination with the electricity department.
- All tanks should be filled first every year.
- Maintain the Minimum Drawing Level in all the Reservoirs to supply water to Mission Bhagirathaprogramme.
“When the Telangana State was formed, paddy was cultivated in 30 Lakh acres. Now Paddy is being cultivated in 1.10 Crore acres. This became possible due to increase in the supply of water for irrigation. The network is getting ready to supply water through the projects to 1.25 Crore acres. The lands cultivated under borewells is additional. Water Resources Department has the responsibility to supply water for irrigation, to Mission Bhagirathaprogramme for the drinking water purposes and to the industries. This has enhanced the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Water Resources Department. The government has revamped the Water Resources Department to efficiently manage the duties. All the projects, reservoirs, check dams, Anicut, lift irrigation schemes of the region were brought under the control of the CE concerned. The Government had transferred specific financial powers from the DEE to Engineer-in-Chief. The power is given to the local official to take up and execute emergency works without they being come to Hyderabad for permission. This is a historic decision. Nowhere in the country such a transfer of power is given. Engineer-in-Chief (General) can approve works up to Rs 25 Crore per year with each work not exceeding Rs 1 Crore, Chief Engineer (CE) works worth Rs 5 Crore per year with each work not exceeding Rs 50 Lakh, Superintendent Engineer (SE), works worth Rs 2 Crore per year with each work not exceeding Rs 25 Lakh, Executive Engineer, Rs 25 Lakh worth works per year, with each work not exceeding Rs 5 Lakh, Deputy EE, Rs 5 Lakh works per year with each work not exceeding Rs 2 Lakh. This should be properly utilized and all the small works should be completed. Supply water for irrigation to farmers without any glitches,” the CM said.
“We have revamped the Water Resources Department, whether this revamping is comfortable? Are the officials able to do their jobs conveniently? Get a feedback on this. If need be make the changes,” the CM instructed