Finance and Health Minister T. Harish Rao said here on Sunday that Chief Minister K. The Telangana government led by Chandrashekhar Rao is working on the conservation and rejuvenation of rivers as well as the revival of minor irrigation sources with the participation of people and public representatives.
Speaking at the concluding session of the two-day National Conference on Rivers, he said that the government with the help of Mission Kakatiya has been successful in increasing the irrigation potential by implementing large and medium irrigation projects along with harvesting every drop of rain. The fact that the incidents of tank breakdown have come down significantly in the state despite heavy rains was ample proof of the success of restoration and revival of minor irrigation tanks.
The groundwater level had also risen significantly during the last seven years with the construction of more than 4,000 check-dams by spending around 6,000 crores apart from restoration of tanks. New reservoirs and barrages with a storage capacity of 141 TMC ft were also constructed in Godavari and measures were taken to protect rivers and other water resources for generations to come.
Pointing out that Kaleshwaram was the largest multi-level lift irrigation scheme in a record time of three years. But due to delay in getting approval for the project, it could have been completed in less time. He said that the Mallanasagar reservoir constructed with 50 TMC feet of storage capacity would provide irrigation facilities to 13 districts and ensure assured drinking water supply to Hyderabad.
The government had prepared the Musi revival works and they would soon be grounded. He wished that India’s waterman Rajendra Singh, who was present at the conference, could celebrate his birthday on the Musi front in the next few years.
Earlier in the day in another session, Energy Minister G. Jagadish Reddy said that there were around two lakh fluorosis patients in the combined Nalgonda district, but the safe and protected water being provided under the Mission Bhagirath scheme has brought down the cases and no new cases have been reported. since last year.
Telangana Rythu Bandhu Samiti Chairman Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Telangana Water Resources Development Corporation Chairman V. Prakash Rao, Waterman of India Rajendra Singh and others were present.