Hyderabad, June 14: Twelve irrigation projects have been completed under the state government’s ambitious Jalayagnam programme but they are not serving any purpose as it will take at least another three four years for these projects to become fully operational.
According to the officials, 12 of the total 86 projects under Jalayagnam are completed and 20 other projects are partially completed `creating irrigation potential’ for 18.47 lakh acres. The irrigation potential was created for 3,20,633 acres with an expenditure of Rs. 1,389.76 crores on completing these projects.
There are another 39 priority projects where progress is more than 75 per cent, including 20 projects where water was released and irrigation potential was created partially for 14,07,678 acres with an expenditure of Rs 30,382.80 crores. Recently, the Irrigation department was asked to complete these projects within the current fiscal year. In all, the Government spent a whopping Rs 53.206.29 crore for Jalayagnam programme over the last six years.
“All these projects are completed and ready for operation at any time. But the distribution network, which is essential for water supply, will take about three-four years for completion.
Though we are supplying water to nearby areas, it is limited,” said the officials in the Irrigation department. They also admitted that it would be difficult to assess the area being cultivate under these projects at this point.
Following the directions from none other than the Chief Minsiter, the officials are making efforts to estimate the area brought under cultivation through these 32 projetcs including 20 partially completed projects.
–Agencies