Harish Rao 'Start immediate pumping of Kaleshwaram water to fill reservoirs'

BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao demanded that the Congress government immediately switch on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme’s pumps at Kannepalli and start pumping water to fill reservoirs, to safeguard farmers’ interests during the ongoing Vaanakalam (Kharif) season.

In a letter to Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday, Harish Rao said farmers were under stress due to inadequate rainfall attributed to El Nino, coupled with the delay in filling reservoirs. He said



this was affecting the progress of crop cultivation. He appealed to the government to set aside politics and utilise the available water for irrigation without further delay.

The former Minister said the Mid Manair reservoir, a key component of the Kaleshwaram project, had a full reservoir level capacity of 27 TMCft and currently held around 22 TMCft. With inflows expected from rainfall in the upper reaches, he urged the government to utilise the available water and begin pumping from Mid Manair.