Mission Kakatiya Phase 3 To Begin In Jan End: TRS

Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao said that the third phase of Mission Kakatiya would be taken up during the last week of January, and priority would be given for the revival of tanks in districts where they were empty due to shortage in rainfall.

Harish Rao asserted that it was the State government's vision to ensure that all the tanks in the State were revived for the benefit of the farmers.

Replying to supplementary questions by members from all sides, Harish Rao said that the government had allocated an amount of Rs. 2,595 crores for the first phase of the project and an amount of Rs. 3,130 crores for the second phase of the scheme. The State administration gathered all details about the tanks in the State and soon would be made available on the government website, he added.

The Irrigation Minister also claimed that the revival of tanks helped in increasing the groundwater level. Some 3.5 crore tractors of silt in the first phase of the program and another 2.5 crore tractors of silt in the second phase were procured and being utilized by the farmers. This had resulted in the farmers getting a benefit of Rs. 500 crores, he added.

TDP member A Revanth Reddy pointed out that there were allegations of irregularities on the first and second phase of the scheme, and sought to know what action the government had taken in this regard. He, in particular, referred to irregularities in the Mulug division and demanded that the government order a probe into the same.

The TDP member also expressed concern over the government's silence in regards to the alleged illegal occupation of government lands at the N Convention Center in Hitec city by film actor Akkineni Nagarjuna. He demanded that the government order an investigation into the matter.