MISSION KAKATIYA .... Minister T Harish Rao Statement In TS Legislative Council

MISSION KAKATIYA

Minister T Harish Rao Statement

In TS Legislative Council

20-12-2016

·        The tagline of Telangana agitation is “Water, Funds & Employment”. The ancient Minor Irrigation system of Telangana was neglected due to priority assigned to Major Irrigation systems, as such the Minor Irrigation System of Telangana has not received proper care and many of the tanks have become dilapidated. It was the dream of the Telangana people that the minor irrigation system should be rejuvenated. The Government of Telangana has taken up the task of rejuvenating all the minor irrigation water bodies through a programme titled Mission Kakatiya.

·        The Programme of Mission Kakatiya has envisaged certain goals and would like to achieve these goals.

·        As a first step a detailed tank census was conducted during Sept 2014 and the number of water bodies was found to be 46531. Amongst these there are about 5000 chain link tanks. The Mission Kakatiya programme envisages repairing and rejuvenating 9300 Minor Irrigation Tanks every year. I personally launched this programme on 12th march of 2015 at Patha Cheruvu of Sadashivnagar (V) in Nizamabad District. 8165 Tanks were taken up with an administrative approval of 2595 Crores under Mission Kakatiya Phase-I. The works have started in 8059 tanks and works are completed.

·        In the second phase the Government have accorded administrative sanctions for 9113 tanks costing 3130 crores. The works in 8806 tanks were started and 1536 tank works were completed. It is instructed to complete the MK – II works by June 2017.

·        The MK – III works will be launched from January 2017. It is decided to take up all the feeder channels for repairs and rejuvenation in Phase-III along with construction of some new tanks.

·        One important aspect of Mission Kakatiya is removal of silt and application of silt in the fields with the participation of the farmers. So far 6.00 Crores of tractor trips of silt was transported by the farmers into their fields .the approximate cost involved is around Rs. 500 Crores in such transportation. The removal of silt has increased the water holding capacity across the state by 5 TMC. All such results could be achieved because of the participation of farmers and also public in general.

Results of Mission Kakatiya:

·        The preliminary reports suggest that the Ayucut under Minor Irrigation Tanks has doubled compared to previous years. An estimated 5 Lakh acres of gap Ayucut is stabilized under the completed works.

·        With the application of the silt the crops like cotton, chillies, soya bean, paddy, vegetables, pulses, horticulture and floriculture have shown better yields compared to previous years.  The application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has also considerably reduced after application of the silt.

·        The ground water has taken up study on impact of Mission Kakatiya on Ground Water table since the commissioning of the programme. It is informed that there is a record net increment of 15.17 Mts in Medak District and very low increment is recorded in Mahaboobnagar District as there is scanty rainfall.  Net increment of state average is computed as 8.42 Mts. This remarkable Ground Water enhancement is attributed to Mission Kakatiya Programme.

·        The fisheries department has dropped 40 Crores fish lingers in 5000 tanks taken up under Mission Kakatiya Phase -I & Phase -II Programme.  Due to sufficient water received in these tanks due to good rain fall during the year the fisher community will get good production and their financial position will be improved.

·        Due to strengthening of tanks under Mission Kakatiya Phase-I and II programme, the damages occurred are very less even through good rain fall received during year.

·        Due to heavy rain fall received in Telangana State in the Month of September 2016, about 35000 tanks were filled up and in other areas where less rain fall received about 840 tanks were filled by SRSP Canal System and NKLI System. It is proposed to irrigate 7.50 Lakh acres in the Rabi Season which is highest than ever in the last 10 years. 

·        NITI Ayog officials have recommended Govt of India for financial assistance to the programme. Sri Rajendra Singh, known as Water man of India and Magsaysay Award winner visited Telangana and inspected Mission Kakatiya works, had interaction with local people. He expressed satisfaction over the huge investments on restoration of age old minor irrigation sources which is unheard in the past by any government in the country. He wished that this programme should be a model for all the states in the country.  British Parliamentary delegates visited the Mission Kakatiya works and expressed their happiness.

·        Technical Assistances seeking from ISRO, NABARD, BITS Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad and IIIT Hyderabad for Mission Kakatiya programme in order to achieve good results.