KARIMNAGAR, DEC. 1. The TRS legislator from Nerella, Kasipeta Lingaiah, has decided to launch a padayatra from the Upper Manair Dam (UMD) reservoir to the State Assembly, seeking filling of the UMD reservoir by lifting the Godavari waters.

The padayatra would be launched on Thursday from the UMD project site in Narmal village, Gambhiraopeta mandal, in Nerella segment. The yatra would be organised from December 2 to 7, covering a distance of 150 km and reach the State Assembly in Hyderabad to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Y.S Rajashekhara Reddy.

Twin benefits

The Minister for Youth services, T Harish Rao, the Minister for BC welfare, V Lakshmikantha Rao, the DCC president and legislator, D Sridhar, Congress legislators T Jeevan Reddy, J Ratnakara Rao, K Ramulu, TRS legislators E Rajender, G Mukund Reddy, K Eshwar, the ZP chairman, K.V Rajeshwara Rao, and others would be present at the flagging off of the yatra in Narmal village. The UMD, a medium irrigation project constructed by the Nizam some 50 years ago, dried up following the continuous drought conditions as well as `illegal constructions' on the Kudelli Vagu, main irrigation source of the reservoir, on the catchment area in neighbouring Medak district under the Neeru-Meeru programme. The project was designed to irrigate about 15,000 acres of land in 16 villages of the segment, besides providing drinking water.

Fulfilment of promise

On Wednesday, Mr Kasipeta Lingaiah said that when he visited the segment during the elections he was shocked to see the plight of the people, who were denied water for irrigation and drinking requirements. "As I had promised during the elections to protect the UMD reservoir by ensuring lifting of water from Godavari river, I have decided to launch a padayatra programme from the project site to the Assembly with an all-party delegation and highlight the plight of the people,'' he said.

He said that the groundwater table in the segment had depleted to about 500 feet due to no recharge of the groundwater due to the parched irrigation project.

Farmers and the youth were migrating in search of employment to other places, including Gulf countries, and were being deceived by dubious agents. The legislator suggested the Government to lift water from the proposed Yellampalli project to the UMD reservoir on a war footing to provide water for irrigation as well as drinking purposes.