AP govt assures plan to restore and maintain irrigation projects

Vijayawada: Irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu on Monday assured the Assembly that the govt is committed to restoring and maintaining all irrigation projects, canals, and drainage systems across the state. He promised a comprehensive revival plan to safeguard farmers' interests.Speaking during Question Hour, Ramanaidu said the irrigation maintenance system had collapsed during the previous YSRCP regime, severely affecting ayacut and drinking water supply. He cited the Yanamadurru drain, where 46 of 54 inlets are in dilapidated condition. "Neglecting even basic upkeep led to large-scale damage to critical infrastructure," he observed.Comparing expenditure, the minister noted that while only ₹200 crore was spent on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) during the five years of the previous regime, the present coalition has already spent ₹708 crore in its first year. He alleged that routine works such as desilting, repairs to locks and shutters, replacement of ropes, and greasing were ignored earlier.Ramanaidu painted a grim picture of lift irrigation schemes, stating that 613 out of 1,008 lifts are defunct and only 158 are fully operational. "Not a single rupee was spent on repairs in the last five years, forcing many lift schemes to shut down," he said. As a result, irrigation to nearly 4 lakh acres was disrupted.He added that the Paidimetta lift scheme has not received maintenance since 2019, depriving nearly half its ayacut of water. To address the crisis, the govt has prepared proposals worth ₹595 crore for restoring 611 lift schemes, alongside a five-year O&M plan costing ₹765 crore.Ramanaidu emphasized that the govt's priority is to revive irrigation infrastructure, stabilize ayacut, and ensure farmers do not suffer due to administrative neglect. "We will systematically repair, modernize, and maintain every project to safeguard the state's agricultural backbone," he assured.