Hyderabad: Former minister T. Harish Rao has urged irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy to start the Kaleshwaram project motors at Package-6 without delay. He said immediate pumping is vital to fill key reservoirs for the ongoing crop season.
In a letter to Reddy, Harish Rao warned that slow reservoir filling was disturbing cultivation schedules and creating anxiety among farmers. He said filling Mid Manair, Annapurna, Ranganayaka Sagar, Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar and Baswapur would benefit nearly five lakh acres of ayacut.
Harish Rao seeks urgent pumping to fill Kaleshwaram reservoirs
He pointed to water availability in upstream projects. Sri Pada Yellampalli reservoir holds 14 TMC against its 20 TMC capacity, with 22,300 cusecs inflow from Kadem. Sriram Sagar Project has 45 TMC against an 80 TMC capacity. With heavy rains swelling the Godavari, he urged pumping from the Nandi pump house under Package-6 at once.
Harish Rao also pressed for filling the Lower Manair Dam, which now has 7 TMC against its 24 TMC capacity. He proposed diverting water from Mid Manair to support kharif and rabi crops under SRSP Stage-2 ayacut.
Recalling that five lakh acres were cultivated last rabi using these reservoirs, he said the same goal should be met this kharif and the next rabi. He urged filling all linked reservoirs, canals, tanks and check dams under the Kaleshwaram project.
He called for action free from political bias to ease farmer worries and secure irrigation for the season.
