Tanks restored under Mission Kakatiya cry for maintenance after monsoon havoc

Several breaches in tanks were reported across districts, exposing the State’s lack of preparedness and raising questions about post-restoration maintenance.

Hyderabad: Weather-worn and neglected, several tanks restored under Mission Kakatiya are now in urgent need of follow-up maintenance. Without regular upkeep, these irrigation structures, vital for farming in upland areas, have left farmers anxious about potential damage during this monsoon.

These minor irrigation tanks, many located in regions not served by major or medium irrigation projects, bore the brunt of the 2024 monsoon. Heavy rains led to over 4,000 tanks overflowing, with nearly 2,000 reaching full capacity. Several breaches were reported across districts, exposing the State’s lack of preparedness and raising questions about post-restoration maintenance.

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Launched by the previous BRS government, Mission Kakatiya helped revive most of Telangana’s 46,000 minor irrigation tanks by 2023. The project involved strengthening bunds, sluices and weirs, while using desilted soil to improve farmland. This effort significantly boosted paddy cultivation, especially in Warangal, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Nalgonda.

However, maintenance has become irregular since the Congress government took charge in 2023. The intense rainfall of 2024 laid bare the system’s vulnerabilities, with breaches reported in Suryapet, Warangal, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Nalgonda. In Suryapet, the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal breached, affecting nearby tanks.

Warangal floated tenders to repair the surplus weir of Pedda Mott, and Mulugu launched emergency works on Alugubally Cheruvu. Several tanks in Nalgonda also required urgent restoration following widespread flooding.

To address the damage, the State sought Rs. 558 crore from the Centre. However, the central assistance was limited, and the inadequate response is evident in the deteriorating state of tank infrastructure. Although programmes like Mission Kakatiya and Flood Damage Restoration have been revived, with tenders now issued for desilting and bund reinforcement, concerns persist.

Farmers fear that delays in maintenance may undo the benefits of previous efforts. The anxiety is particularly high in districts like Kamareddy and Mahabubnagar, where paddy and gherkin cultivation is heavily dependent on these tanks.

The events of 2024 highlight the urgent need for continuous attention to irrigation systems. While Mission Kakatiya, conceived by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, laid a strong foundation for agricultural revival, its success hinges on sustained follow-up.

Officials admit that timely repairs and ongoing maintenance are essential. Restoration has begun in some districts, but farmers worry that much of it may be too little, too late.