Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Tuesday directed officials to revive old drinking water schemes in villages as an alternative in case of disruptions to supplies through Mission Bhagiratha.
At a review meeting at the Khammam district collectorate on the situation arising from the Super El Nino effect, the minister cautioned that high temperatures this year could increase evaporation and seepage losses from reservoirs.
He asked officials to adjust Mission Bhagiratha water supply timings to local conditions and prevent wastage by repairing leaking pipelines. He directed them to prepare a proactive plan to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply until July 2027.
Nageswara Rao said old village-level drinking water schemes should be restored to serve as alternatives if Mission Bhagiratha supplies were disrupted. Restoring individual borewells and overhead tanks would also help, he said. He asked officials to prepare proposals seeking the funds required to restore the schemes and stressed the need to use available local water sources efficiently to prevent shortages.
The minister asked officials not to release water from the Kinnerasani project for Yasangi crops. Instead, the water should be used for drinking requirements under Mission Bhagiratha, if necessary.
He also suggested keeping regulators, shutters and distribution systems in the Nagarjunasagar command area closed and taking measures to retain water in the main canals up to Paleru.
Nageswara Rao directed officials to store as much water as possible in the Sita Rama project by operating its three pump houses.
Officials from the irrigation, Mission Bhagiratha, agriculture and medical and health departments in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts presented updates on their respective departments through a powerpoint presentation.
Khammam district collector T.S. Diwakar and Bhadradri-Kothagudem district collector Ankith attended the meeting.
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