'Mission Kakatiya' will revive irrigation: Harish

Hyderabad, Nov 20 (INN): Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao on Thursday informed the State Legislative Assembly that the State Government has decided to restore the Chain Tank System in Telangana in a phased manner under the programme called 'Mission Kakatiya'.

Replying to a question raised by MLA V Prashanth Reddy during Question Hour, the minister said that the components to be taken up under 'Mission Kakatiya' include repairs to bunds, weirs and sluices; Resectioning of irrigation channels and repairs to CM & CD works; Restoration of Feeder Channel to the Tank; Silt removal and silt application and restoration of FTL and raising capacity wherever possible.

The minister accused the previous Andhra rulers of deliberately neglecting the chain tank system in Telangana which dropped the groundwater levels and now water is not available even at 300-400 feet depth. Earlier, he claimed that nearly 265 TMC water used to be available in Telangana which is now going waste into the sea.

He said that Telangana had the highest number of lakes in the country. But now the same area has been turned into drought zone. He said that the chain tank system was developed by Kakatiya Rulers and Asaf Jahi rulers maintained the same. However, the Andhra rulers damaged the system as a part of a larger conspiracy.

Harish Rao said that the 'Mission Kakatiya' would be implemented in consultation with the local public representatives at all stages of identification and execution of works. He said that nearly Rs 20,000 crores are expected to be spent for restoration of 46,531 tanks.

An amount of Rs 5,000 crore has been allocated for the restoration of 9,306 tanks during 2014-15. He said that the lake silt would be given at free at cost to those farmers who provide their tractors for the works. He said preference would be given to villages where farmers are willing to cooperate in implementing the programme. He said works would be executed by calling e-tenders.

Speaking on the issue, Congress MLA Dr G Chinna Reddy objected to the naming of project as 'Mission Kakatiya'. He also said that there could no uniformity in spending on each lake as their sizes and works involved vary with each other. He also accused the government of imposing Bathukamma festival upon people and said that the festival was significant only for the people of north Telangana.

TDP floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao asked the government to implement the programme in a transparent manner. He also asked the government to clarify on how the Dalit farmers doing cultivation on the banks of old tanks would be rehabilitated.

TRS MLA R Ramesh advised the government to introduce a new tender system so as to maintain transparency and prevent irregularities.

BJP floor leader Dr Lakshman welcomed the project and advised the government to send an official team to Dehradun to study their model of water conservation. He also asked the government to study the Israeli technology which requires less water for irrigation. He said that the State Government should seek Central assistance for the project.