CM promises Godavari water from Kaleswaram to Nizamsagar project canals

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said that he would make efforts to divert Godavari waters from Kaleswaram in Karimnagar district to the canals of Nizamsagar project to irrigate parched agricultural fields in Nizamabad district.

“With the thoughtless water projects designed by the previous Andhra rulers, nothing happened to Telangana and even a district like Nizamabad, which once was number one in the State in agriculture, became dry. Therefore, there is an imperative need of re-engineering the projects. I will take you [residents] to the ground-breaking function of Godavari water diversion scheme to Kaleswaram,” he said.

Addressing a well-attended public meeting after launching Haritha Haram programme by planting saplings on ZP High School ground, Mr. Rao said that water should be given through canals for the progress of agriculture sector. “We will make it a reality cent per cent,” he said.

Saying that rains were eluding the district as trees were indiscriminately felled and forest cover depleted, he pointed out that “ there are rains and tanks filled to brim in Adilabad, Khammam and Warangal because there are plenty of trees and forest cover. Therefore, everyone must involve and grow trees here also”.

Rs. 80 lakh grant

Mr. Rao on the spot sanctioned Rs. 80 lakh for construction of a panchayat building and an initial amount of Rs. 2.5 crore for the repair of drains and roads, creation of additional rooms in the local school and construction of 200 double bedroom houses and platforms for drying turmeric.

Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javdekar said that the Centre would encourage all States to grow trees and maintain cleanliness by allocating Rs. 35,000 crore in the years to come.Water diverted

The Chief Minister said that injustice was meted out to the district in the field of irrigation by diverting Manjeera water from Singur to twin cities by the previous governments. “I will now liberate Nizamabad from the clutches of Singur,” he said.

That apart, Balkonda, Armoor, Yellareddy and Kamareddy Assembly constituencies would be provided with the Godavari water by lifting it from Kaleswaram. The Nizamabad-Armoor road used to be replete with lush green forests till a couple of decades ago and people used to fear to travel though the route. Now, what is the condition? Forest became barren resulting in elusive rains. If saplings are planted in the 4,500 hectare forest land there and trees raised all over the town, rains would occur every day,” he said.

Earlier KCR paid tributes to Telangana martyrs at their obelisk at Vinayaknagar. Ministers Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Jogu Ramanna, MPs K. Kavitha, B.B. Patil and Balka Suman, MLCs, MLAs and District Collector D. Ronald Rose were also present.

With the thoughtless water projects designed by previous Andhra rulers, nothing happened and even a district like Nizamabad, which once was number one in agriculture, became dry.

K. Chandrasekhar Rao,Chief Minister