Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy offering flowers to Nizamsagar water before releasing it for Rabi crop in Kamareddy district on Friday.
Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has stated that the government is resolved to create irrigation potential to an additional 30 lakh acres with the modernisation of projects such as Nizamsagar and Sriramsagar in the next five years.
On Friday, he reviewed the status of water availability for the Rabi season under Sriramsagar in Mendora of Nizamabad district with project engineers and senior officials of the Irrigation Department. Legislators P. Sudarshan Reddy, R. Bhupathi Reddy and V. Prashanth Reddy, Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja, and District Collector Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu, accompanied him.
Lifeline for farmers
The officials informed the Minister that siltation had reduced the water storage capacity of Sriramsagar Project (SRSP) from 112 tmc ft to 80 tmc ft. Mr. Reddy instructed them to use advanced global de-silting technologies to restore the original capacity of the project. He stated that SRSP had been the lifeline for farmers in 10 districts irrigating 12.5 lakh acres ayacut for the two crop seasons a year.
He wanted the authorities to make optimal use of the lift irrigation schemes to ensure equitable water delivery to the tail-end areas of the ayacut. Legislators Mr. Bhupathi Reddy and Mr. Prashanth Reddy sought the minister’s intervention to expedite 21st package of Pranahita-Chevella project. He stated that Telangana had achieved record paddy cultivation and production of 66.7 lakh acres and 153 lakh tonnes, respectively, despite limited reliance on the Kaleshwaram project.
Later, at the Nizamsagar project in Kamareddy district the minister released water for the Rabi crop. He was accompanied by Advisor to the Government (Agriculture) and MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, MLAs P. Sudarshan Reddy and Thota Lakshmikanth Rao and District Collector Ashish Sangwan. Mr. Sudarshan Reddy requested allocation of funds for installation of shutters on the main canals and distributary channels of Nizamsagar project to improve water management.
The Minister urged farmers to adopt “on-and-off” method of drawing water for irrigation to maximise efficiency and promised to expedite the completion of the Nagamadugu Lift Irrigation Scheme and Lendi project in collaboration with Maharashtra. He criticised the previous BRS government for mismanaging irrigation projects alleging that despite spending ₹1.81 lakh crore, projects such as Palamuru-Rangareddy and Kaleshwaram failed to deliver significant benefits.
He stated that the Kaleshwaram project constructed at a cost of ₹1 lakh crore had structural and operational flaws. He pointed out that restrictions imposed by the National Water Tribunal prevented optimal utilisation of water from the project.
Published – December 13, 2024 09:20 pm IST
