Complete Kaleshwaram by May 31: Harish tells engineers

Hyderabad: “The Kaleshwaram Project should be completed by May 31without any further delay”, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has directed the project engineers.

The Irrigation Minister held a high-level review meeting with officials on the Kaleshwaram project, which got final environmental clearance from the Centre. He said he would take up a three-day tour on January 17 to the prestigious project which is very prestigious for the government as part of its mission to irrigate one crore acres in the State. The project is estimated to cost about Rs 90,000 crore and will stabilize 18.80 lakh acres and irrigate 1.80 lakh acres in several districts of North Telangana.

Harish Rao also directed that the project is the most prestigious one as promised by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. He warned of serious consequences if any dereliction of duty was found in the execution of the works. The Chief Minister is personally looking into the project and related works should be complete as per time frame, the irrigation minister said.

Taking stock of the works of Sundilla barrage in Peddapally district under package VI and VII, Harish asked the officials to maintain quality. The officials were also asked to report daily progress of the works on whats app, he said. Harish asked them to speed up package 7 works and barrage gates of Sundilla, Annaram and Medigadda and also fabrication works. Stating that the quality was most important, he said they plan to construct two lifts on both sides of the Sundilla barrage.

As the Chief Minister said he would make a regular visit to the project once 10 days, Harish Rao said, since the people have pinned hopes on the State government, Kaleshwaram should be completed as per time and 200 days left for shifting Medigadda waters to Mid Maner barrage. Harish also said the project got environmental clearance from the Centre and will irrigate crops in 15 districts.