KCR to take officials for aerial survey

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will conduct another aerial survey on Wednesday, this time to give his senior officials a bird's eyeview of the Manair drinking water programme's success in Medak district.

According to official sources, Rao may engage one or two choppers to take with him some senior officials essentially to explain to them how the Manair water programme - under which water from Manair in Karimnagar district is drawn and supplied to 171 villages in Siddipet, Medak district - was executed and inspire them to replicate the success in the proposed Water Grid project.

After the aerial survey, the Chief Minister will address officials and all his ministers at Mulkacheruvu near Siddipet. Rao, when he was an MLA, oversaw the Manair drinking water supply project. The Chief Minister's latest initiative comes amid skepticism over the proposed ambitious Water Grid.

Sources said the State government has decided to float a separate Board or Corporation for mobilising funds for the Water Grid. The government has recently contacted a Chennai-based ICRA Management Consulting Services Limited (IMaCS) in this regard.

'The ICRA asked some information from the government. Once officials furnish the information, it will suggest whether to float a separate Board or Corporation for the implementation of Water Grid,' sources in the government said..

Getting loans for projects would be easier if there is a Corporation or Board in place. The Water Grid requires anywhere between `25,000 crore and `35,000 crore in the next five years. Rao has already vowed not to seek votes, if he fails to complete the Water Grid by 2019 elections.

Last week, Rao directed the officials concerned to prepare a 60 feet tall pylon in Nalgonda district for the formal inauguration of the Water Grid.

The official sought two months but, Rao categorically told them the pylon should be completed in three weeks. 'The Chief Minister is very particular about the expeditious completion of Water Grid,' an official said.

As part of the Water Grid, around 26 sub-water grids will come up in districts. Surveys on as many as six sub-water grids have been completed so far, the sources said.

The surveys on the remaining too will be completed soon. Then, detailed project reports (DPRs) will be prepared. Only then will the government be able to zero in on the exact amount required for the project.

According to a rough estimate, water pipelines of around 5,227 km will be laid across Telangana to provide safe drinking water to all the citizens in the State.

The officials will draw 60 tmc water for the Water Grid from various sources like Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, SRSP, Kadem and others. The Water Grid will cover all the villages in all the districts, except, those within the ORR.