A high-level expert panel has warned that the merger of minor and major irrigation departments in Telangana has been 'disastrous,' leaving 95% of farmers dependent on borewells. The report urges the immediate restoration of minor irrigation tanks and the removal of encroachments.
- Merger of minor and major irrigation departments in 2020 led to systemic neglect of 44,170 small water bodies.
- Approximately 90-95% of farmers under minor irrigation sources are currently unable to access water.
- Panel recommends re-establishing a dedicated MI system and empowering Panchayat Raj bodies to collect water cess.
In a scathing assessment submitted to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, a committee of experts constituted by the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission has highlighted a critical failure in the state's water management strategy. The report concludes that the decision to merge the Minor Irrigation (MI) department with the Major Irrigation department following the state's formation has proved disastrous, resulting in a total collapse of supervision for smaller water bodies.
The scale of the crisis is immense, with 44,170 minor irrigation tanks across the state suffering from severe siltation, pollution, and illegal encroachments. According to the panel, the lack of focused engineering supervision has plummeted water use efficiency, forcing the vast majority of rural farmers to abandon traditional tanks in favor of expensive and unsustainable borewells.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this is not merely an administrative failure but an ecological disaster. Minor irrigation tanks serve as the primary mechanism for groundwater recharge in rural Telangana. By neglecting these 44,170 bodies, the state has inadvertently accelerated the depletion of the water table, creating a vicious cycle where farmers dig deeper borewells as the tanks that should refill them remain dry or encroached upon.
The systemic neglect of minor irrigation has stripped the rural environment of its backbone, transforming a sustainable water ecosystem into a borewell-dependent wasteland.
The panel's recommendations are comprehensive, focusing on the immediate fixing of Full Tank Level (FTL) boundaries to legally identify and remove encroachments. Furthermore, the committee suggests a complete structural overhaul, including the creation of small technical units and the integration of minor and major sources through command area-based management systems.
Financial sustainability is also a key pillar of the proposal. The experts suggest amending the WALTA and PR Acts to allow Water Users Associations (WUAs) and Panchayat Raj bodies to collect water cess. This would provide a localized funding stream for maintenance, reducing the burden on the state exchequer while ensuring accountability.
Beyond administration, the report emphasizes the need for capacity building. It calls for training programs for farmers on efficient water use planning and the modernization of pump-sets, which the panel estimates could save the state approximately ₹3,000 crore per annum in energy consumption.
| Feature | Post-Merger Status (Current) | Proposed Restructured System |
|---|---|---|
| Supervision | Centralized/Neglected | Decentralized Technical Units |
| Maintenance | Defunct WUAs | Empowered PR Bodies & WUAs |
| Water Source | Heavy Borewell Reliance | Integrated MI & Major Sources |
| Funding | State Dependent | Localized Water Cess Collection |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why was the merger of irrigation departments considered a failure?
The merger led to a loss of focus on smaller water bodies, as the administration prioritized major projects, leaving 44,170 minor tanks without proper engineering supervision or maintenance.
Q2: How will the proposed changes benefit the farmers?
By restoring tanks and removing encroachments, farmers will regain access to surface water, reducing their dependence on costly borewells and lowering energy costs.
