Mallanna Sagar: KCR inaugurates India's biggest artificial reservoir

Telangana: At a click of a button, Telangana set operations of India's biggest artificial reservoir- Mallanna Sagar. Chief Minister K ChandraShekar Rao, on Wednesday inaugurated the multi-crore project, constructed as part of the multi-purpose Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) fourth link. Godavari River water was released into Mallanna Sagar on the Tukkapur Surge Pool.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has dedicated the Mallanna Sagar reservoir to the people of Telangana. Today's inauguration marked the completion of all the reservoirs on the main trunk of the KLIS. "We promised to wash the feet of Komuravelli Mallanna with Godavari waters, today it has been fullfilled. Abhishekam was performed at the feet of Mallanna who is the lifeline of Telangana". The CM promised compensation to all those who lost their land due to the project. He asked Minister Harish Rao and officials to create employment to them. The CM reminded that Mallanna Sagar would provide drinking water not only to Siddipet district but also to Hyderabad on a permanent basis.

Purpose:

Mallanna sagar, envisaged to cater irrigation requirements to the state, is located at the center of the state. It is expected to help farmers of Medak, Nalgonda and Nizamabad.

With a length of 22.6 kms, width of 8 metres, and height of 59.98 metres, Mallanna sagar reservoir has a storage capacity of 50 TMC ft. It will be the second biggest storage reservoir in Godavari basin after Sriramsagar reservoir. Executed at a cost of Rs.7,041.32 crores, the reservoir is expected to be useful in irrigating 11.29 acres of land.

There were many issues regarding the project, even at the High Court of Telangana. Many of the families who lost their lands for the project had approached the Telangana high court, challenging the state's alleged coercion in acquiring lands.

Based on various petitions from oustees (men and women) of the Mallanna sagar project, the High Court last year directed the state government to treat them as separate families and pay compensation to them in full. Besides irrigation, the project is also expected to provide drinking water to the people of Hyderabad and also will be used for industrial needs of the state.

Speaking to the irrigation officials, the CM has instructed Special Chief Secretary (irrigation) Rajat Kumar to construct irrigation complex sprawling across 100 acres area. He also instructed ministers Harish Rao, Srinivas Goud to develop the Mallanna Sagar region as an international tourist place inclusive of a marriage destination Centre. "Since a regional ring road is coming up near Mallanna Sagar Reservoir, it would become a tourist spot for Siddipet, Karimnagar, Jangaon, Aler townships which are in 60 Km radius, he said. The CM wanted arrangements made for the people coming from these areas. The CM has instructed the officials concerned to develop medicinal plants in 7500 acres of forestland.