Hyderabad: Kaleshwaram pumps should be switched on immediately to fill irrigation reservoirs and protect farmers, former minister and BRS MLA T. Harish Rao said on Monday.
In a letter to Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Harish Rao urged the government to begin pumping water without delay.
He sought water supply to Annapurna, Ranganayaka Sagar, Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar and Baswapur reservoirs across various districts.
Harish Rao said nearly four lakh acres of ayacut depended on the Kaleshwaram project. He warned that inadequate rainfall and delayed reservoir filling had caused distress among farmers during the ongoing kharif season.
According to Harish Rao, El Niño conditions had contributed to the rainfall shortage. The situation had also affected crop cultivation in several areas.
The BRS MLA urged the government to utilise floodwaters flowing downstream after recent rains in the upper catchment areas. He called for capturing every possible drop of water for irrigation.
Kaleshwaram pumps sought to fill reservoirs and protect farmers
Harish Rao highlighted the water position at the Mid Manair Reservoir, a key component of the Kaleshwaram project. The reservoir has a full capacity of 27 TMC, while current availability stood at around 22 TMC.
Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas could increase inflows into the Godavari, he said. Against this backdrop, Harish Rao called for the Kaleshwaram pumps at Mid Manair to start operating.
He also urged the government to fill tanks and check dams. Such measures, he said, would help maintain irrigation supply to nearly four lakh acres of ayacut.
Harish Rao also pointed to the water position at the Lower Manair Dam (LMD). Its full reservoir capacity stands at 24 TMC, while current availability was around 6.9 TMC.
The BRS leader asked the government to draw water from Mid Manair into the LMD. He said the move would help provide irrigation water to the ayacut under SRSP Stage-II and offer relief to farmers.