Following Mid Manair Dam breach, CM cancels contract and asks officíals to hand over project to ‘competent’ agency

Alleging that the delay in the construction of Mid Manair Dam (MMD) by contractors led to the breach of the earth dam, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao cancelled the the contract and ordered fresh tendering process for MMD work.

The Chief Minister, who visited Karimnagar town on Monday, reviewed the flood situation with Ministers T. Harish Rao and Etala Rajender, Chief Whip Koppula Eshwar, district MPs and legislators. He also conducted an aerial survey of the MMD and Sripada Yellampalli projects.

The Mid Manair earth dam, constructed as part of the SRSP flood canal project, was breached following deluge on Sunday night. The MMD was expected to act as a balancing reservoir for the proposed Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.

Following incessant rains and copious inflows into the MMD, the flood water overflowed from the spillway and the earth dam on Sunday, forcing the district authorities to evacuate land oustees of the project. The irrigation authorities had planned to store 3 tmcft of water in the MMD. However, following the 130-metre breach to the earth dam, the entire water in the reservoir flowed to the LMD reservoir.

Talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the MMD breached due to heavy inflows and incomplete earth dam work. He told the officials to ensure that the work was given to a competent agency. He said all 12,000 villagers who were shifted to rehabilitation centres on Sunday returned to their villages as the flood water receded.

Alleging that the Congress government had delayed the payment of compensation to land oustees, the Chief Minister also announced distribution of compensation to children of land oustees who are 21 and above.

As per the new order, individuals who are 21 and above would get Rs. 2 lakh compensation. It would cost the State exchequer an additional amount of Rs. 114 crore. The Chief Minister said the scheme would benefit 4,231 land oustees of the MMD and 1,447 of the Sripada Yellampalli project.