Ensure Flood Mitigation Measures On War Footing, Uttam Kumar Reddy Tells Officials

Hyderabad, August 27: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said flood mitigation measures across Telangana must be taken up on a war footing to safeguard lives and property during the ongoing spell of heavy rains.

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Speaking to the media at Gandhi Bhavan, he said every precaution was being put in place to protect reservoirs, canals, and minor irrigation (MI) tanks from breaches and ensure effective water management.

The minister said all possible steps, from close monitoring of water levels to deploying sandbags at vulnerable points, were being taken. He stressed the need for tight coordination between the Irrigation Department, District Collectors, revenue authorities, and other concerned departments. “Preventive action is always better than damage control. Officials must work in unison to ensure no incident is reported anywhere in the state,” he said.

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“I wish to once again reiterate, in view of the flood-like situation in some districts, all irrigation officials are requested to be present in the field and initiate flood mitigation measures by using their financial powers under GO 45,” the Minister said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy Calls for High Alert, Urgent Flood Measures in Rain-Hit Districts

Earlier in the day, Uttam Kumar Reddy held a detailed video conference with senior officials of the Irrigation Department and instructed them to remain on high alert, particularly in Kamareddy and Medak districts, where heavy rainfall was reported. He said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had already directed all departments to stay fully prepared, and irrigation officials must lead from the front. “Whatever flood mitigation measures are required must be taken immediately,” he emphasised.

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Reports from Kamareddy indicated that Nizam Sagar was safely handling surplus inflows of 1.52 lakh cusecs with an additional 86,000 cusecs incoming. The minister directed officials to keep a close watch, restore minor tank damages immediately, and ensure constant coordination with the district administration. “The heaviest rains are being recorded in your districts. Do not lower your guard,” he told Kamareddy and Medak CEs.

The minister instructed that sandbags be arranged in advance and positioned at vulnerable stretches of bunds, canals, and tank bunds, especially in low-lying villages. He said the Irrigation Department officials must coordinate closely with police, Panchayat Raj, and power utilities to ensure a quick response to any situation.

Issue Flood Alerts to Farmers, Ensure Real-Time Updates: Uttam Kumar Reddy

He directed that flood alerts be issued to farmers cultivating in ayacut areas downstream of reservoirs, so that they can take precautionary steps. He emphasised the need for quick communication lines so that reports on rainfall, reservoir levels, and field conditions are received in real time.

Reviewing the storage position in the Krishna and Godavari basins, the minister directed engineers to give continuous updates on inflows, discharges, and timelines for reaching full reservoir levels. He enquired whether all pumps were working at full capacity and instructed that additional pumping should be taken up wherever possible to manage water levels efficiently.

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At Palair Dam, he ordered officials to fill the reservoir up to safe levels while maintaining a buffer margin to accommodate natural inflows. He said regulated releases through the Left Canal must be ensured to prevent water from being wasted into the sea.

Minister Reviews Dams, Calls for Balanced Flows and Steady Power Supply

In the Godavari basin, operations at Sripada Yellampalli, Mid Manair, and Lower Manair dams were reviewed. The minister asked engineers to carefully balance inflows and outflows and to intensify pumping at Annapurna, Ranganayaka Sagar, and Mallanna Sagar so that optimum levels could be achieved within the next two weeks. He directed them to work closely with the power department to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply for pumping operations.

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CEs were also instructed to fill MI tanks wherever feasible as part of an organised programme to strengthen water storage across the state. The minister added that emergency control rooms must remain active around the clock and district-level teams should be prepared with equipment and materials, including sandbags, to deal with any breaches or emergencies.

To ensure accountability, he directed Engineer-in-Chief Amjed Ullah to personally monitor reservoir levels and pumping daily, through both physical inspections and online reviews. He said all CEs must hold daily meetings and report progress to ensure no negligence in flood preparedness.

Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the twin priorities were to protect the state from floods and to ensure long-term water security by making optimal use of available resources. “This season gives us the chance to secure water for the year, but it must be managed with efficiency and discipline. All officers must treat flood safety as an emergency task and act without delay,” he added. (Maxim News)

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