History of Nizam Sagar Dam

Nizam Sagar Dam (Telugu: నిజాం సాగర్) is an Indian dam. It is a reservoir constructed across the Manjira River, a tributary of the Godavari River, between Achampet and Banjapalle villages of the Nizamabad district in Andhra Pradesh, India. Water from the reservoir is sent to meet the drinking needs of the twin cities, Hyderabad andSecunderabad. It is located at about 144 km north-west of Hyderabad,

Nizamsagar dam was constructed in 1923 by the then rulers of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is made by making over 40 villages empty.It is one of the biggest in the world.Best Place to visit. Mahatma Gandhi & Jawaharlal Nehru visited this place in early 1940s.

The dam 

This masonry dam sprawling across the river for 3 km with a fourteen feet wide motorable road over it. There are excellent boarding and lodging facilities nearby, for tourists.

Before Nizam Sagar was built, the Manjira River was not properly harnessed and little water was being used by diverting water at Ghanpur Anicut for Irrigating about 5,000 acres and an open Channel called Mahaboob Nahar (Right Canal) in Medak District. The Ghanpur Anicut was the first scheme constructed across Manjira river in 1904 at a cost of Rs.18.00 Lakhs. Some years later, Nawab Ali Nawaj Jung Bahadur as Superintending Engineer added Fatch Nahar ( Left canal ) to increase the utility of the river later. The ayacut of 17,308 acres was being irrigated under this Ghanpur Anicut which subsequently increased to 30,000 acres as per actuals.

Nizam sagar Project is the second irrigation scheme on Manjira river and the largest in the then Hyderabad state taken up during the year 1923 and completed by the year 1931. This Project was originally contemplated for utilization of 58.00 TMC of water to irrigate 2,75,000 acres in Banswada, Bodhan, Nizamabad and Armoor Taluks of Nizamabad District. After reorganization of States in 1956, the Manjira basin got distributed among the three states viz., Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Different irrigation schemes have come up in above three states. Some of them to mention are:-

Manjira Barrage and Singur Project in Andhra Pradesh to meet the drinking water needs of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

Karanja Project, Choukinala Project in Karnataka, Lower Tiruna Project, Manjira Project in Maharashtra State. Therefore, the inflows into Nizamsagar Project and as well as the low flows at Ghanpur Anicut during lean periods have dwindled considerably. Added to this the silting of reservoir has been at greater pace than designed for. From the investigation conducted by the A,.P.E.R.L. (Andhra Pradesh Engineering and Research Laboratories) Hyderabad in 1973, it was shown that the capacity of 29.7 TMC at original FRL of RL + 1400.50 ft. has been reduced to 11.8 TMC. In the remodeling proposals F.R.L. has been raised from +1400.50’ to +1405.00’ and the capacity at this new FRL of + 1405.00’ is 17.80 TMC.

Apart from the above changes, out of the total localized ayacut of 2,75,000 acres, 28,085 acres have come under submergence of Sreeramsagar Project, 8,296 acres have come in the command of Lakshmi canal and Kakatiya Canal of Sreeramsagar Project, and 7,260 acres ayacut has not been getting water since inception of Nizamsagar Project. Thus, the settled ayacut of 2,75,000 acres has come down to 2,31,339 acres.

In view of the above enumerated facts, the inflows into Nizamsagar Project not only reduced but also delayed resulting in not only in the delayed commencement of agricultural operations in the ayacut but also some times loss of crop due to insufficient water supply. The problem has become more acute during the years 1972-73, 1993–94 and 1994-95.