02-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Telangana: Minister sets timelines for Mahabubnagar irrigation projects
Nagarkurnool/Wanaparthy, May 1 (UNI) Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday announced a clear roadmap to fast-track all pending irrigation projects in the undivided Mahabubnagar district to ensure their completion as per a defined timeline.
He said the massive Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme would be completed by December 2027, which was delayed and an injustice to farmers under the previous BRS regime.
Accompanied by Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Telangana Planning Board Vice Chairman Dr G. Chinna Reddy, and MP Dr Mallu Ravi, the Irrigation Minister undertook an extensive aerial and on-ground inspection of major irrigation sites across Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts.
The inspection included detailed field assessments and updates from officials on the status of various project components.
Later, talking to the media, Uttam announced that a timeline has been fixed to complete the works necessary to fill 50 TMC of water in the Narlapur, Yedula, Vattem, and Karivena reservoirs.
He said that the Udandapur reservoir would be filled within the overall March 2026 deadline.
He also directed that the Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bheema, and Koilsagar projects must be fully completed by March 2026.
The Minister assured that two non-functional motors at Lift-I of the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme would be repaired and made operational within the next two to three months.
He instructed irrigation officials to prepare a comprehensive list of pending land acquisition cases and vendor-related packages to resolve all bottlenecks in the implementation of these schemes.
Uttam said the inspection was meant to assess on-ground challenges and finalize budget allocations, and that funds would be released in a timely manner to ensure uninterrupted progress.
He criticised the previous BRS government for compromising Telangana's irrigation interests. 'KCR mortgaged the interests of farmers in Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Khammam.
Despite the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal allocating 811 TMC to undivided Andhra Pradesh, the then CM and Irrigation Minister asked for only 299 TMC for Telangana, allowing Andhra Pradesh to claim 511 TMC,' he said. 'This injustice continued from 2015 to 2023.'
After assuming office, he said he filed a review petition before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II seeking a revised allocation in favour of Telangana, based on the state's geographical area and population under the Krishna basin. 'We have asked for 511 TMC or at least 60–70% share,' he added.
The Minister also announced that the State Government has sanctioned and given ₹25 lakh ex gratia to each of the six families of the workers still trapped inside the SLBC tunnel.
He said the Geological Survey of India had issued a warning that reaching the trapped section is extremely dangerous. A high-level technical committee has been appointed to oversee rescue and the remaining tunnelling works.
He reiterated that completing irrigation projects in the Palamuru region is a top priority for the Congress government and assured that long-pending schemes would finally be delivered to benefit lakhs of farmers in southern Telangana.
He also held meetings with top district officials in Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy on paddy procurement and ration card distribution, indicating that the government is focused on both long-term and immediate needs of farmers and rural households. UNI KNR SSP
