Velpur (Nizamabad): Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that he is planning for re-engineering of projects in the Telangana state to get maximum benefit. “The century old Nizamsagar project storage capacity was decreased to 17 TMC from 29. We are planning to fill up the project with Godavari water by lift irrigation scheme at Kaleshwaram,” he explained.
 
After staying over night at Balkonda MLA V. Prashanth Reddy’s house in this mandal headquarters, the Chief Minister took part in Haritha Haaram programme in Balkonda, Armoor, Nizamabad urban and rural, Yellareddy and Kamareddy mandals on Monday. Union minister for environment Prakash Javadekar, forest and agriculture ministers Jogu Ramanna, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy were also accompanied the CM.
 
Speaking at a series of public meetings, the Chief Minister accused the past Andhra rulers for  neglecting greenery, which led to present crisis of shortage of rains. Ineffective government  policies, timber smuggling destroyed the forests in Telangana, he added.
 
Adilabad, Warangal and Khammam districts received good rainfall due to thick forest coverage, whereas rest of Telangana districts are struggling due to lack of rains, he said. Mr Rao called upon the elected representatives and people to plant saplings and protect them like they did during Telangana movement. “Government can spend a lot of money for welfare schemes and development activities, but it won’t bring rains,” he said and added that government will not tolerate negligence towards massive plantation programme.
 
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Mothe villagers in Velpur mandal, who first passed an unanimous resolution demanding separate statehood in 2001. Reacting to the wish list of villagers, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 2.50 crore for roads, drainages, new buildings for gram panchayat and primary health centre. He also said that drip irrigation and water storage tanks will be sanctioned to all eligible villagers with 100 per cent subsidy.
 
The Chief Minister quoted Gobi desert in China and Surat city in Gujarat for sapling plantation and cleanliness in his speeches.