Harish Rao: 1,200 checks dams to come up in two years

Hyderabad: Finance Minister T Harish Rao said that the government would be taking up construction of 600 check dams during this financial year and 600 more in the next financial in the state with the financial assistance of NABARD.

The minister was replying to a question by TRS member G Venkata Ramana Reddy, who sought details of number of check dams sanctioned after the formation of Telangana. The minister said that after the formation of Telangana 146 check dams were sanctioned and 53 were completed and remaining were under process. Because of this, 56,776 acres of ayacut was proposed to irrigate.

The minister said that administrative sanction was given for construction of 1,200 check dams in the command area of major and medium irrigation projects with an estimated cost of Rs 3,825 crore. During this financial year, 600 check dams would be taken up and remaining 600 check dams would be taken up in the next financial year with the assistance of NABARD.

The minister informed that 16 check dams were constructed in Bhupalapally and they would be completed in two years, in Choppadandi 18 were sanctioned, 13 would be taken up this year and the remaining five in the next year. In Husnabad 13 were sanctioned and they would be completed this year. In Devarakadra 17 were taken up and they would be taken up in next year. In Achampet this year eight check dams would be taken up and eight more would be taken up during the next year. When the TRS members wanted the minister to save the water going into the sea, Harish Rao said that the intention of the government was to save every drop of water.