Telangana Govt To Spend Rs 10,820 Crores On Irrigation Projects In 2024-25: Uttam

Hyderabad, July 28: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy informed that the Congress Government in Telangana has outlined a comprehensive expenditure plan for the fiscal year 2024-25, focusing on various irrigation projects across the Godavari and Krishna basins. The plan aims to create new irrigation potential and stabilise existing infrastructure to support agricultural productivity in the state.

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy held a press meet at Jal Soudha on Sunday, where he reviewed the state of the irrigation department with Advisors, Secretaries and other senior officials. The Engineer-in-Chief, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and other officials from across the state attended the conference. The review covered various aspects, including budget allocations and project progress.

Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the irrigation sector received a clear focus in the financial budget, with a capital investment allocation of Rs 10,820 crores. Discussions included identifying stalled projects and pending payments. He also highlighted the potential for flooding in certain areas during the rainy season and the necessary precautions for reservoirs and tanks.

He announced that the Congress Government would create an additional 30 lakh acres of ayacut across Telangana in five years. The Minister emphasised the government’s commitment to starting a new chapter in the state’s irrigation sector, aiming to benefit farmers and the public.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reviewed the progress of priority projects, measures to expedite work, and actions taken on petitions submitted by public representatives regarding irrigation issues. He emphasised that there would be no shortage of funds for priority projects and that the allocation for the Irrigation Department is adequate.

Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed the importance of completing field-level work according to targets and ensuring that assigned tasks are completed on time. He warned that negligence in work would not be tolerated and that committed and sincere efforts are essential. He also cautioned that contractors causing delays or acting negligently would face action.

The Minister highlighted the need for responsible and timely work completion, adherence to regulations, and immediate attention to requests from public representatives. He underscored the value of public funds and the necessity of careful expenditure.

Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised the importance of ensuring the swift completion of priority projects and identifying and resolving field-level issues. He warned of action against officials whose negligence negatively impacts farmers and crops. He stressed the need for effective operation and maintenance of canals and tanks, along with regular inspections and flood prevention measures. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity of transparent and regulation-compliant completion of work, with state-level reviews to be conducted every 15 days.

The Minister emphasised the importance of discipline and responsibility in completing irrigation projects.

Irrigation Department Advisor Aditya Nath Das, Secretary Rahul Bojja, Prashant Patil, ENC Anil, and other officials attended the video conference.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also shared funding details and proposed ayacut for various projects in Godavari and Krishna Basins.

Significant funds have been allocated to several key projects in the Godavari Basin. The Chinna Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS) is set to receive Rs 183.96 crores, with plans to create a new ayacut of 12,267 acres. The Modikunta Vagu project will receive Rs 163.08 crores, while the Lower Penganga, including the Chanka Korata LIS project, is allocated Rs 147.23 crores to develop 27,794 acres of new ayacut. The Sripada Yellampally LIS will receive a substantial Rs 545.95 crores, aiming to create 41,000 acres of new irrigation potential. The JCR DLIS project, with an allocated budget of Rs 512.18 crores, plans to develop 132,012 acres. The largest allocation in the Godavari Basin goes to the Sita Rama LIS, with Rs 1,487.31 crores set aside for creating 118,933 acres of new ayacut. This includes the stabilisation of 111,818 acres and the creation of a new ayacut of 7,115 acres.

The Godavari Basin projects will see a proposed new ayacut of 332,006 acres with a total fund requirement of Rs 3,039.71 crores.

In the Krishna Basin, several projects have been prioritised. The Koil Sagar LIS will receive Rs 121.56 crores to develop 3,078 acres of new ayacut. The RBLIS project is allocated Rs 127.34 crores for 21,692 acres, and the JNLI project will receive Rs 67.88 crores to create 35,000 acres. The Kalwakurthy LIS project is set to receive Rs 489.16 crores, aiming for 134,994 acres of new irrigation potential. The largest allocation in the Krishna Basin goes to the Dindi LIS with Rs 1881.1 crores to create a new ayacut of 8,000 acres. AMR SLBC project will receive Rs 1,679.66 crores to develop 50,000 acres.

Overall, the Krishna Basin projects will cover 252,764 acres with a total budget of Rs 4,366.72 crores.

The total proposed new ayacut across both basins is 584,770 acres, with a combined funding requirement of Rs 7,406.43 crores for the fiscal year 2024-25. This comprehensive plan reflects the Telangana Government’s robust commitment to enhancing the state’s irrigation infrastructure, focusing on critical projects that are prioritised based on their potential impact. The emphasis on creating and stabilising irrigation potential underscores the government’s strategy to improve water management and agricultural output, supporting farmers’ livelihoods and contributing to the region’s overall economic growth.

An expenditure of Rs 7,406.43 crores is planned for the creation of a new ayacut covering 5.85 lakh acres across 12 projects. The Minister highlighted that in the Kaleshwaram project, Packages 9, 20, 21, 21A, and 22 have been prioritized. The Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS) is a new project and has been classified as a priority. A sum of Rs 1,000 crore is needed for land acquisition and related works. Additionally, the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project is classified under Category-C, with its ayacut expected to be realised after March 31, 2026. This project requires Rs 6,130.53 crores for land acquisition and works. 

“KTR making irresponsible remarks on Kaleshwaram project”

Uttam Kumar Reddy accused BRS Working President K Tarakarama Rao of making irresponsible comments regarding the Kaleshwaram project. He dismissed his demands to fill the project’s reservoirs as dangerous and ill-informed. He emphasised that following KTR’s suggestions could lead to catastrophic consequences, including structural damage to key barrages such as Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla. He warned that overfilling these reservoirs could result in severe downstream flooding, threatening the lives and properties in villages like Bhadrachalam and compromising projects such as Sammakka-Saralamma and Sitaram LIS.

The Minister criticised the previous BRS government, led by K Chandrashekar Rao, for mismanagement and corruption in redesigning and implementing the Kaleshwaram project. He accused the TRS of unnecessarily shifting the project from Tummadi Hatti to Medigadda, increasing the project cost from Rs 30,000 crores to Rs 85,000 crores without expanding the ayacut. He claimed that this mismanagement led to the collapse of the Medigadda barrage shortly after its completion, a situation he attributed to poor planning and execution by the BRS government.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that KCR and KTR have mortgaged Telangana’s future by putting a significant financial burden on the state. He pointed out that the state is already paying Rs 15,000 crores in interest and principal payments, which is expected to increase to Rs 25,000 crores upon the project’s completion. He also highlighted that the state spent Rs 94,000 crores on the project, but only 93,000 acres were brought under cultivation, questioning the project’s effectiveness. He said a total of Rs. 1.45 lakh crore would be needed to complete the project.

He criticised KTR for attempting to shift the blame for the Medigadda barrage’s collapse onto the Congress government, which assumed office 47 days after the incident. He condemned KTR’s remarks as immature and lacking in knowledge, accusing him of spreading misinformation to deflect responsibility from the BRS’s failures. He emphasised that the Congress government is focused on addressing the issues caused by the previous administration and is committed to following the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) recommendations to ensure safety and sustainability.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated that the Congress government was a responsible administration that prioritises expert opinions and was committed to transparency and accountability. He assured that a thorough investigation into the Medigadda barrage collapse is underway and those responsible will be held accountable. Responding to a query on KTR alleging Congress conspiracy in damage to Medigadda barrage, he advised KTR to submit the details to the Commission of Inquiry led by Justice Chandra Ghosh, investigating the Kaleshwaram project scam.

He condemned KTR’s remarks as reckless and insisted that adhering to technical guidelines and expert recommendations is crucial to avoid disastrous consequences. He stressed that the Congress government would not compromise on safety and was committed to rectifying the mistakes made by the previous administration.

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