103-year-old Pocharam project stands tall amid flood fury

A file picture of Pocharam project

It was nothing short of a miracle that 103-year-old Pocharam project on Allair river in Nagireddypet mandal of Kamareddy district withstood the flood fury of 1.82 lakh cusecs inflow as against the maximum flood discharge capacity of 70,000 cusecs.

The raging flood waters due to heavy rain in its catchment area on Sunday saw Pocharam project receiving unprecedented flood. With water overflowing alarmingly and the bund on the Kamareddy side showing signs of giving away, district administration and irrigation officials feared the worst about massive breach to the project.

But, as the water levels came down, it became evident that the over a century old project withstood the disastrous flood water. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy could not hide his relief as he took to X.

“Happy to share with all — our 103-year-old Pocharam Project has bravely withstood a massive flood inflow of 1,82,000 cusecs, far beyond its MFD of 70,000 cusecs. After the tense moments yesterday, it was a great relief for me and my irrigation colleagues to see the project standing strong. Truly a proud and emotional moment!,” he tweeted.

Records show that Pocharam was the first project taken up by the then Nizam of Hyderabad, when he laid the foundation stone in 1917 at Pocharam village of Nagireddypet now in Kamareddy district. Nizam government constructed a guest house near Pocharam project.

Conceived with 2.423 tmc capacity, the project was constructed at a cost of ₹27.11 lakh. It was completed in 1922 to serve water needs of Nagieddipet and Yellareddy mandals in Kamareddy district and Medak mandal in Medak district. Due to silt formation, the project storage capacity has come down to 1.82 tmc.

For the last 103 years, the project has been serving irrigation and drinking water needs of Nizamabad and Medak district people. The entire project was constructed with limestone by the Nizam’s government and its length spanned 1.7 km with 21 feet high bund across Manchippa brook. The project has 58 km long canal and 73 distributaries. Pocharam has an ayacut of 10,500 acres under this project, The project distributaries are divided in to A and B zones.

The project is also a popular tourism destination for visitors from Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka, who throng the sanctuary also. The project is 110 kms from Hyderabad, 50 kms from Kamareddy, and 130 kms from Nizamabad district headquarters.