Uttam Kumar Reddy sets timelines for Mahabubnagar irrigation projects

Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy inspecting the works on the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project in the combined Mahabubnagar district on May 1.

Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday announced Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme would be completed by December, 2027, ending years of delay and injustice to farmers under the previous regime.

Accompanied by Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Telangana Planning Board Vice Chairman Dr G. Chinna Reddy, and MP Dr Mallu Ravi, the Minister undertook an extensive aerial and on-ground inspection of major irrigation sites across Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts.

The tour began with the inspection of the Stage-I pumping station and the Narlapur reservoir, which holds a capacity of 6.4 tmcft. They reviewed the progress of the open canal between Narlapur and Yedula, part of Package-3 of the Palamuru-Rangareddy project.

A detailed review of the Package-3 was done and the concerned Chief Engineer and the construction agency were given a deadline of six months to complete the Package-3.

The Minister inspected the Yedula reservoir and Stage-II pumping station at Teegalapally in Kodair mandal. This segment features 10 pumps of 145 MW capacity each, with a discharge capacity of 23,000 cusecs, feeding into a 6.5 tmcft reservoir. Notably, it includes India’s largest underground cavern — 30 metres wide, 415 metres long, and 90 metres deep – located 160 metres below the surface.

The Stage-III pumping station and Vattem reservoir in Vattem village of Bijinepally mandal featuring 10 pumps of 145 MW capacity each and identical discharge capacity were inspected.

Later, Mr. Reddy told the reporters that a timeline has been fixed to complete the works necessary to fill 50 tmcft of water in the Narlapur, Yedula, Vattem, and Karivena reservoirs. 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.