Hyderabad : Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced a major push for cost-effective irrigation projects, aiming to expand the ayacut by 30 lakh acres over the next five years.
Speaking during the Question Hour in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Thursday, he highlighted the Congress government’s focus on efficiency, employment generation, and addressing long-standing challenges in the irrigation sector. Criticising the previous BRS government for spending Rs 1.81 lakh crore with limited results, Uttam Kumar Reddy outlined a comprehensive strategy to maximise coverage with minimal expenditure, prioritising timely execution, modernisation, and operational sustainability of irrigation projects.
The Minister revealed that the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel is being expedited with advanced Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) equipment imported from the United States, with a revised project cost of Rs 4,650 crore approved. Completion is expected within two years. The Congress government has allocated Rs 294.18 crore for canal projects, including Bunadigani, Dharmareddy, and Pillaipalli canals, which aim to provide irrigation water to 66,000 acres across Nakrekal, Munugode, Bhongir, Alair, and Tungaturthi constituencies.
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While tenders have not been floated for the Pillaipalli and Dharmareddy canals, administrative approvals of Rs 123.98 crore and Rs 86.22 crore, respectively, have been granted. These projects are expected to be completed within two years, bringing irrigation to over 40,000 acres. The Dharmareddypally canal will irrigate 17,787 acres across Bhongir and Nakrekal constituencies, while the Pillaipalli canal will benefit 22,500 acres spanning Bhongir, Munugode, and Nakrekal constituencies.
A final decision on water allocations for the Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme will be taken within a month, with local MLA Vemula Veerasham tasked with overseeing pending land acquisitions. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the release of Rs 37 crore for land acquisition for the Brahmanavellamla project, with an additional Rs 22 crore to be released this week. For the Baswapuram reservoir project, Rs 50 crore has been disbursed under the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package, and the government is addressing pending issues to ensure timely completion. The rejuvenation of Musi canals is expected to irrigate 60,000 acres in the combined Nalgonda district within two years. The Gandhamalla project’s capacity has been revised to 1.5 TMC to expedite approval, showcasing the government’s focus on practical solutions.
The Minister criticised the previous government for consolidating major, medium, and minor projects under a single Chief Engineer per district, which led to operational inefficiencies. To address this, the Congress government has initiated a special drive to improve maintenance and ensure adequate manpower for minor irrigation projects. A total of 700 Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) are being recruited, alongside 1,800 Laskar staff through outsourcing, to strengthen the irrigation department. Some of these recruits are graduates from prestigious institutions like IITs and IIITs, reflecting the government’s commitment to quality and modernisation. Uttam Kumar Reddy noted that theft of transformers and equipment has caused losses to farmers and the government, and steps are being taken to address this issue.
The Congress government is prioritising timely execution of pending projects, including the Devaadula lift irrigation scheme, which is being completed on a war footing. The government has issued orders for mini-lift irrigation schemes across Telangana and allocated Rs 120 crore for the Station Ghanpur canal, with tenders to be floated soon. Repairs and maintenance of neglected lift irrigation systems are being prioritised to integrate them into broader irrigation plans. MLAs, including Kumbham Anil Kumar Reddy, Beerla Ilaiah, and Vemula Veerasham, expressed support for the government’s initiatives, including funding of Rs 224 crore for the Bunadigani canal, Rs 129 crore for the Dharmareddy canal, and Rs 95 crore for the Pillaipalli canal.
The Minister emphasised the importance of land acquisition in ensuring timely project completion and urged public representatives to support smooth acquisition processes in their constituencies. He highlighted the Congress government’s commitment to bringing an additional 30 lakh acres under irrigation through cost-effective measures while addressing employment generation, operational sustainability, and farmers’ welfare. He reiterated the government’s resolve to work collaboratively with farmers and MLAs to achieve these ambitious goals.
