Timelines of irrigation projects non-negotiable: Uttam

Hyderabad: Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has asked officials to prepare and implement a comprehensive, project-wise action plan for the speedy completion of all major irrigation projects in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.Speaking at a review meeting on irrigation projects and deadlines fixed during chief minister A Revanth Reddy‘s inspection of major irrigation projects in the district recently, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the timelines were non-negotiable and asked them to ensure that all bottlenecks relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, power supply and contractor performance were resolved in a mission mode.The minister said the state govt was determined to complete the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and other long-pending irrigation projects that would transform the region and benefit lakhs of farmers. He instructed chief engineers to submit completion schedules for every major component of the projects.On PRLIS, he said all rehabilitation measures for families displaced by Narlapur, Yedula and Uddandapur reservoirs should be completed at the earliest. “The main trunk infrastructure works up to Karivena reservoir must be completed by Dec 2026 and ensure immediate power connectivity to Narlapur, Yedula and Vattem pump houses. They should pursue studies on solar power generation at reservoirs to reduce future energy costs,” he said.On Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to complete repair and rehabilitation works of pumping stations and ensure that all motors become fully operational by March 2027. He said canal works under the Narlapur reservoir should be taken up and directed that the entire project, including the canal distribution network, be completed by June 2027.The minister said the Makthal-Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme should be completed by July. He instructed the district administration to complete land acquisition and rehabilitation processes for nearly 4,200 acres already under requisition and accelerate execution of Phase-I packages. He said the state govt’s objective was to complete most of the major irrigation works in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district by 2027, unlock the full irrigation potential of the region and fulfil the long-standing aspirations of farmers across Palamuru.