Rains hampers MK phase -II

The rains have badly hit the Mission Kakatiya works under the second phase. De-siltation works of very few tanks have been completed before rains struck the district.

The huge delay in submitting estimations, clearing tenders and getting administrative sanctions affected the mission Kakatiya works. Restoration works of some tanks began in May ending in the Adilabad.   

Fishing activity is now taking place in the tanks that received rainwater where de-siltation works were hampered under Mission Kakatiya- II phase.    

According to sources, as many as 468 tanks revival works have been sanctioned  under the second phase and among them 467 were grounded. Revival works of only 13 tanks were completed so far and reaming were at different stages in the district.

Irrigation officials say works cannot be done now as tanks received rainwater and they will complete the works by December ending.

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, who reviewed the Mission Kakatiya works taken up under phase-I and II, has expressed displeasure over poor performance in completing works in the second phase and pending works of 23 tanks out of 558 taken under phase –I in the district.

He said works of bund and field channels and Thumu can be done even tanks received rainwater adding that 41 new tanks will come up with central government funding in the Adilabad. 

As many as 1.36 lakh acre ayacut will come up including 60,000 acres of new ayacut and 76,000 acres ayacut stabilization under minor irrigation in the Adilabad district.

A mini- tank bund was sanctioned to Nirmal and to be developed with the estimated cost of Rs 20. 

On the other hand, Gaddenna vagu project and Kumram Bheem project will also be developed as mini- tank bund while developing a tank in Marlavai village as mini- tank bund in Jainoor mandal.

Meanwhile, the irrigation department will make a documentary with the success of the tanks restoration works, increased storage capacity and ground water table under mission Kakatiya in the district.

Villages celebrate with fish meals

 people fishing in the backwaters of Mattadivagu project  at Tamsi

Heavy rains brought life to fishing activity in the villages with people resorting to traditional fishing as tanks, streams were overflowing and fishes entering into the canals, agriculture fields.

People of many villages are celebrating the rains with festive meals from the catch.

All the major and minor irrigation projects have received rainwater in the district including river Penganga. 

The construction work of Korata- Chanaka barrage on river Penganga was abandoned due to water flow and it is said that the cement platform was washed away in the floodwaters a few days ago.

People were seen busy fishing at down streams of irrigation projects, at ‘Thumu’ of tanks and ‘Mattadi’ and catch fish traditional tools.

Chinnaiah of Jainad, who caught a 6 kg fish in a rivulet in Mancherial sold the fish for Rs 600 and was ecstatic at this sudden downpour of luck. However, it will take few more days for irrigation projects to receive rainwater up to full tank level.    

People of neighboring villages have been thronging to the Mattadivagu irrigation project for fishing. People are using saris, and bed sheets as nets for catching fish for the family feast.

Adivasis are enthusiastically fishing in tanks located in their areas while the heavy rains breached the roads and rainwater flowing over the low-lying bridges disrupting the transportation and connectivity to the interior villages including Mattadiguda in Utnoor division.

The low-lying bridges have become redundant especially in tribal areas and there were proposals to construct the high- level bridges in its place for the free flow of  rainwater and transportation and to improve the road connectivity especially in Narnoor mandal.

Fishing activity gathers pace

Fishing activity has increased in villages as tanks on the verge of drying up. Community fishing is in full swing in the villages. 

People and birds flock at the tanks, which are on the verge of drying up. Fishing is easy in the mud with little water unlike in the tanks with full water.       

Community fishing is popular among the Tribals and fishermen . Fishing activity is quite strong in tanks around Nirmal and its surrounding mandals.

The interesting part in fishing is that they do not use any nets but catch fish traditionally as it is possible with the tanks drying up and very little water remaining in the tanks.

Members of the fishermen communities were of the opinion that fishing need to be carried out or the fishes will die without water as tanks are drying with rising temperatures.

Fishing of large fishes will become difficult once the tanks started receiving rainwater while releasing fish seed into the tanks.

Fishermen were seen busy fishing in Dharmasagar and Bangalpet tanks in Nirmal town in the last two days. Nirmal town and its surrounding areas have become the hub of fishing activity for the last 15 days.    

Fisherman Ramaiah of Utnoor said he will have to catch all the fish raised in the last season or he would incur a huge loss. He exports fish to Nagpur and Hyderabad.

Demand for fish during the summer as chicken prices have been on the rise in the last one month and people prefer fish , he said.

Meanwhile, fisheries department is preparing to supply seed to the registered fishermen societies during the rainy season.