The Mir Alam Tank is the finest example in arched dam constructed on Hussain Sagar, the Ghanapur Anicut across the Manjira with two canals called Fathenahar and Mahabbobnahar Projects, Pocharam lake, Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, Nizam Sagar Project, Mannair Project, Dindi Project, Plair Project, Wyra Project and Sarla Sagar Projects are some of the magnificent contributions of the eminent Engineers of Hyderabad State under Nawab Ali Nawaz Jung Bahadur during the Nizam’s kingdom in the Telangana.
The Development of Irrigation in Telangana is mostly dependent on two major rivers, with about 79% of the Godavari River catchment area and about 69% of the Krishna River catchment area, but most of the land is arid. Telangana is also drained by several minor rivers such as the Bhima, the Manjira, the Musi and about 40000 tanks. The State Government will strive hard to harness the waters of both the rivers for development of this state. The Planned utilization in rivers Godavari & Krishna is 912 TMC and 298 TMC respectively. In the past, rulers paid a good deal of attention to the development of irrigation in their kingdoms for the benefit of their subjects. Big lakes like Ramappa, Pakhal, Laknavaram and many other irrigations works of Kakatiya period.
Geography
Geographically, Telangana, situated in the central stretch of the Indian Peninsula on the Deccan Plateau, is the 29th state of India and twelfth-largest state in the country with an extent of 114,840 square kilometers and a population of 35,286,757 (2011 census). Telangana is bordered by the states of Andhra Pradesh to the south and east, Maharashtra to the north and north-west, Karnataka to the west and Chhattisgarh to the north-east.
Rainfall
The annual rainfall is between 900 to 1500 mm in northern Telangana and 700 to 900 mm in southern Telangana, from the southwest monsoons. Various soil types abound, including chalkas, red sandy soils, dubbas, deep red loamy soils, and very deep b. c. soils that facilitate planting mangoes, oranges and flowers.
Irrigation & Command Area Development
The Telangana government has focus to complete the 33 No of Major & Medium Irrigation ongoing and proposed projects on River Godavari on topmost priority and also restoration of Minor Irrigation tanks.
From the above projects 6.50 Lakhs acres of new ayacut was created. The balance ayacut that would be created after completion of all the projects in the next 4 – 5 years is 25.34 lakh acres excluding Pranahitha – Chevella Project.
The Total Irrigation Potential
created so far up to 03/2014 | 52.95 lakh acres (under Major, Medium and Minor irrigation including IDC sectors) |
Irrigation Potential to be created in 2014-15 | 6.17 lakh acres (under Major and and Medium Irrigation) |
Irrigation Potential to be created in 2015-16 | 6.71 lakh acres (under Major and and Medium Irrigation) |
Irrigation Potential to be created in 2016-17 | 9.25 lakh acres (under Major and and Medium Irrigation) |
Irrigation Potential to be created in 2017-18 | 3.20 lakh acres (under Major and and Medium Irrigation) |
Government proposes to take up “Palamuru Lift Irrigation Scheme”, to benefit upland areas of Mahbubnagar, Ranga Reddy & districts and also “Jurala Pakala Flood Flow Canal” to feed Minor Tanks En-route the Canal for which investigation has been ordered to be completed on top priority. On completion of new proposed Palamuru Lift Irrigation Scheme an additional ayacut of 10.00 Lakhs acres would be created.