Fast-track works on irrigation projects before monsoon, Uttam tells officials

Hyderabad: Irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy asked officials to make optimum use of the summer construction window (between Feb and June) to fast-track work on ongoing projects and complete them before the monsoon. He also directed that the land acquisition process for these projects be completed on a war footing.Reviewing the progress of irrigation works in Nalgonda district at Mellacheruvu, where he took part in various official programmes on Wednesday, the minister stressed the need for 24-hour operations at key project sites to ensure rapid progress while maintaining the highest quality standards. He directed officials and contractors to prioritise work during the dry season, as monsoon-related challenges, including backwater effects from the Krishna river at Pulichintala, make work difficult or even impossible later in the year.Uttam announced that review meetings on the progress of works would be held every 10 days in the erstwhile Nalgonda district, involving district collectors. He also called for issues to be reported directly to him to avoid delays. He expressed satisfaction with the achievements in the irrigation sector under the Congress govt, noting that historic highs had been witnessed in irrigated areas, water utilisation, paddy cultivation, and procurement in the region over the last two years.He credited these achievements to good rainfall in the catchment, which has left the Nagarjuna Sagar dam brimming every year since he assumed charge as the irrigation minister. Uttam said irrigation support should be extended to every acre of the Nagarjuna Sagar left canal ayacut, with tail-end ayacut areas given priority. He also called for water release to be regulated through the ‘Warabandi' system to ensure coverage of even tail-end ayacut.He also reviewed key projects, including the Mutyala Branch canal lift irrigation scheme, intended to irrigate 53,000 acres.