Celebrations erupt in Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Nalgonda, Vikarabad and Ranga Reddy as Palamuru Ranga Reddy boost irrigation project looks to end drought
Post Date – 10:45 PM, Tue – 6/13/23
Hyderabad: The Paramuru district, which had endured its worst days in decades in the past Andhra Pradesh without any rescue, is finally seeing a glimmer of hope.
This area of southern Telangana is caught between drought and will soon have abundant water as the first phase of the long-awaited potable water component of the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Enhanced Irrigation Project is nearing completion. Against all odds, two of the project’s 10 pumps were ready for trial operation. According to officials, they will be available by various means in July.
More than 1,220 water-scarce villages in six districts will receive supplies from this mega-plan to end their flooding. It will be a historic moment in the history of the Paramuru region, which has been marked by drought and despair for decades, sparking a mass exodus of farmers and farm workers to faraway lands. Now, with the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation project expected to end the drought, celebrations will erupt in Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Nalgonda, Vikarabad and Ranga Reddy.
The two pumps installed in the first phase of the Narlapur project will be operational by the end of next month and each pump will generate 3000 cusecs. In fact, the first phase will have as many as eight pumps of equal capacity. An additional pump is being set up as a backup pump in case of emergencies to meet potable water demand.
The Palamuru Ranga Reddy Upgrading Irrigation Scheme is conceived to provide 7.15 TMC of water dedicated to meet the drinking water needs of the villages along the six districts. When the project is completed, 90 TMC of flood water will be drawn from Krishna. The pumping of water from the foreshore of the Srisailam reservoir will last for more than 60 days.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has suspended works on the irrigation portion of the multi-phase project but allowed execution on the drinking water portion on February 17, 2017, saying it “did not find that it was in the interest of justice” to stop work on the project concerning drinking water supply” .
Chief Engineer MA Hameed Khan, who is spearheading the project, said there are no legal issues involved in implementing the drinking water portion of the plan. As Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao wants to meet the water needs of the Palamuru area at all costs, the project has been given a high priority.
Issues related to environmental permitting are addressed along with interstate issues currently submitted to KWDT II for resolution. The Department of Environment and Forests received additional information asking for reconsideration. He said Paramuru was the most disadvantaged area in the state and the state government had given a big focus on water supply.
