KCR visits Kaleshwaram project directs officials to ensure farmers get water for 2 crops

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao visited the Laxmi Barrage at Medigadda, the starting point of the Kaleshwaram Project, on 19 January and expressed happiness and satisfaction over the completion of the project.

He congratulated the water resources department officials, working agencies, and officials from other departments for their efforts in completing the project. "Thousands of workers toiled 365 days in the hot weather. I am very happy that the project, which is of immense help and need to the farmers, has become operational. It is a matter of satisfaction that the dreams of Telangana farmers have been realised and a solution to the drinking water problems reached," the Chief Minister said.

He instructed officials concerned to fill the tanks and reservoirs this summer with the water stored now, at full level, at all the barrages. He instructed officials to prepare project-wise operational guidelines and implement the same. Other major projects in the state should be completed with the same spirit with which the Kaleswaram Project was completed, KCR said.

"For decades, the Telangana farmers have faced hardships. We had resolved that once Telangana state was formed farmers should get adequate water supply for two crops. We planned to construct a barrage at a point after river Godavari and Pranahita joins so that more water can be pumped for more time. After a technical survey by WAPCOS, it was decided to construct a barrage at Medigadda point. We estimated that with 16.17 TMC storage capacity, if the barrage is constructed at a height of 100 mts, water can be pumped for seven months a year. What we planned is happening now. 16.17 TMC of water is stored at a height of 99.7 meters and water is also being pumped," KCR said.

He further added, "Barrages are brimming with water and they are looking like the sea. Water from Medigadda will reach Yellampalli, Mid Maneru, LMD, Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar, Baswapur and Gandhamalla Reservoirs every year come what may. Arrangements are being made to supply water to Nizam Sagar from Kaleswaram. If need be, water will be pumped to the SRSP from Kaleswaram."

Claiming that the Kaleswaram Project has redrawn the irrigation map of Telangana, the Chief Minister said works on Tupakulagudem Barrage and Dummugudem Barrage of the Sitarama Project are being completed speedily.

KCR, along with his wife Shobha, ministers, and other leaders paid floral tributes to the Godavari waters.