Uttam Kumar Reddy Orders 24×7 Vigil At Irrigation Projects As Heavy Rain Threatens Telangana

Hyderabad, August 13: All Irrigation Department officers in Telangana have been ordered to stay at their stations, maintain round-the-clock vigil at dams, reservoirs, canals, and tanks, and act immediately to prevent breaches as the state braces for days of heavy to very heavy rain.

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Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Capt N. Uttam Kumar Reddy issued the emergency directives on Wednesday, authorising engineers to bypass red tape and use funds instantly for flood-related works while instructing top officials to remain physically present at their assigned project sites for the next 72 hours.

The Minister issued the orders during a high-level video conference with Engineers-in-Chief, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, and Deputy Executive Engineers from across the state. Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja, Special Secretary Prashanth Patil, and other senior engineering officials also participated. The meeting followed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s review with district collectors on Tuesday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a prolonged spell of heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next three to four days.

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Citing the latest IMD update, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Khammam, Medak, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Mulugu, Sangareddy, Suryapet, Vikarabad, and Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri districts were likely to receive very heavy rain in the next 24 hours, while many other parts of Telangana could experience heavy rainfall over the next 72 hours.

“No officer is to leave station or apply for leave during this critical period,” he stressed. “From the smallest village-level structure to the largest dam site, every location must be watched closely. If you sense any danger or believe a situation is getting out of control, inform your district collector, your Chief Engineer, and the Irrigation Secretary immediately,” he told officials.

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The Minister directed that all major and medium projects, canals, embankments, lakes, and especially tanks, be monitored without interruption, with special attention to those already full. If any breach is detected in a canal or tank, immediate steps must be taken to prevent damage or loss. Irrigation officials were told to work in coordination with the Revenue and Police Departments to patrol dam sites and vulnerable areas. Special watch must be maintained for signs of overflow, seepage, or structural distress.

To avoid delays in emergency response, Uttam Kumar Reddy authorised officials to utilise available financial resources immediately as given in GO 45 for flood protection works. “This is not the time for paperwork delays. Act fast, and act decisively,” he said.

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During the conference, the Minister conducted district-wise and project-wise reviews, including Nagarjuna Sagar, Jurala, Kadam, and other major reservoirs. He personally enquired about the status of all projects, tanks, and canals in the state, and sought detailed updates on water levels, inflow patterns in the Krishna and Godavari rivers and their tributaries, flood discharge capacity, and readiness of floodgates. Officials informed him that the situation was currently under control, with all standard safety protocols in place, but assured him that field monitoring would be intensified.

He emphasised that all top engineers should remain physically present at the project sites they are responsible for, to ensure quick decision-making and coordination with district authorities. The department’s alert mechanism, he said, must be kept fully active, with rapid communication channels open at all times.

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Uttam Kumar Reddy also said he would personally remain on standby on his mobile phone over the next two to three days to respond to any urgent development. “We cannot afford to be complacent. Every minute counts when dealing with heavy inflows and potential breaches,” he warned.

The meeting concluded with Engineer-in-Chief Amjad briefing officers on additional operational precautions, technical checks, and contingency plans to be followed during the heavy rainfall period. (Maxim News)

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