NIZAMABAD: Much in vogue for its unprecedented benefits in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, it was about a year ago that the Telangana government decided to introduce the pipe irrigation system on a pilot-basis in Nizamabad rural, Balkonda and Armoor Assembly constituencies. As the project uses pipes to provide water to agricultural fields instead of digging up canals, neither does the issue of land acquisition arise nor of water wastage to evaporation 

The State government decided to implement the project in the State after getting experts to visit Madhya Pradesh multiple times and study the project in detail. Having noted that it ensured a reduction in the maintenance budget and gave no scope to the farmers to waste water, the project was implemented in Nizamabad first, with a plan to expand it across the State eventually. Once completed, at an estimated cost of `2,000 crore, the scheme could irrigate as many as 98,000 acres under the project. Unfortunately, it’s been dragging on ever since.

Now, irrigation officials are finally planning to speed up the works, with an aim to complete it before the monsoon hits in 2020. The existing Manchippa reservoir will be redesigned such that its storage capacity is expanded to 5 TMC. Further, a pump house will be constructed in Balkonda mandal -- the source for the project. “We can utilise these sources to irrigate around 98,000 acres of land,” an irrigation official says, adding that the CMO has kept the project on top priority. “Many higher officials have inspected the site recently. The MLAs of Nizamabad rural, Balkonda and Armoor Assembly constituencies are also constantly following up on the developments. We are hoping to receive sufficient funds to complete the project in the next budget,” he adds. 

Speaking to Express, V Atmaram, executive engineer for Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Pipe Irrigation schemes, said, “Works are still in progress. As of now, about 10 per cent has been completed. After the completion of the scheme, Nizamabad district will lead the way for other districts when it comes to dealing with water woes.”