Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed the officials concerned that drinking water should be given top priority in the utilisation of river waters and Minimum Draw Down Levels (MDDL) should be maintained at all the reservoirs and Irrigation projects.
The Chief Minister held a review meeting with the officials on supply of water to Mission Bhagiratha programme with Irrigation and Mission Bhagiratha officials here on Monday. Government’s Chief Advisor Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary SP Singh, Special Chief Secretary SK Joshi, E-in-C Nagender, OSD Sridhar Deshpande, Mission Bhagiratha E-in-C Surender Reddy, Advisor Gnaneswar, CE Jaganmohan Reddy and CMO officials participated.
“We have taken up a gigantic programme like Mission Bhagiratha to supply drinking water to every household on a daily basis. Once we start supplying the drinking water we cannot stop it. We should not stop it either. For this water from the rivers should be available throughout the year. For this maintain MDDL at all the projects. It is not enough if water is stored at the projects and it should be released when need arises. Water should be released when it is required so that there is no scarcity. We have kept 30 resource points for Mission Bhagiratha. Calculate how much water is required for each resource point and store 25 percent more than the required quantity of water. Prepare charts project wise and issue orders. Based on this, prepare the Project Operation rules. For this, Irrigation and Mission Bhagiratha officials should have joint meetings,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government was constructing new projects besides the ones which are already in existence. “We are allocating 10 percent of water for drinking water purposes. Utilising project water for drinking water purposes is a right in Telangana State. If Kaleswaram and other projects are ready, we will get more water. As on date we have sources like SRSP and Nagarjuna Sagar. To supply water to Mission Bhagiratha till the new projects are in place should be through the existing sources. Water should be supplied from these sources only. Prepare first phase of plan now. Prepare a permanent plan after the completion of Kaleswaram, Palamuru, and Sita Rama Projects. Villages should get river water by end of this year. For this, implement the phase I Plan. Appoint a Special Officer from Mission Bhagiratha to coordinate with the Irrigation officials,” the CM advised.
Grow medicinal plants in Vikarabad forest: CM
The Chief Minister suggested that as part of forest revival, selective medicinal plants should be planted and grown in the Vikarabad forest.
KCR has reviewed the 3rd phase of Haritha Haram programme with the CMO officials. The CM recalled that during the Nizam’s time Vikarabad forest had a natural medicinal plants and that was the reason why a TB Sanitarium came up there. He said that Vikarabad with its nature’s beauty has all the factors to develop like the hill station Ooty. The officials informed the CM that out of 40 Crore target under the third phase of Haritha Haram, 29 crore sapling were already been planted.
The Chief Minister wanted another 10 crore saplings to be planted by end of this month. He wanted more plantations to come up on either side of the ORR.
Mobile Vet Clinics
The Chief Minister instructed that entire state wide mobile Veterinary Clinics should be ready. These Mobile clinics should take care of the Sheep that were imported into the State and other animals.
Collectors to oversee the supply of Bathukamma sarees
The Chief Minister wanted supply of sarees to the poor women on the occasion of Bathukamma festival should be successful. The officials informed that half percent of the sarees have already reached the district head quarters and the rest will be in a couple of days. The CM wanted the sarees to be supplied from the district head quarters to the villages and from Sept 18, for three days the sarees should be supplied to the beneficiaries.