Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday said the Telangana government would complete the Sitarama Project and maximise the use of Godavari waters to irrigate the last ayacut.
Bhatti spoke after inspecting the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Seethamma Sagar Multipurpose Project in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy accompanied him.
He said the government had prepared a comprehensive plan to utilise Godavari waters through gravity and lift irrigation. He added that the plan also addressed challenges arising from climate change.
Earlier this week, the government operated all pumps at the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme at full capacity. Bhatti said the initiative would fill 22 reservoirs across nearly 12 districts and 17 Assembly constituencies.
Sitarama Project review focuses on speedy completion
The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to accelerate the remaining works. He said the government wanted to complete the project quickly and deliver water to every eligible ayacut.
Recalling the project’s history, Bhatti said former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had conceived the Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar projects. The projects aimed to irrigate four lakh acres at an estimated cost of ₹3,505 crore.
According to Bhatti, the government had already spent nearly ₹2,000 crore before State bifurcation. He alleged that the previous BRS government later redesigned the projects and increased the cost to nearly ₹24,000 crore after adding the Seethamma Sagar Barrage.
Bhatti further alleged that the redesign increased expenditure by another ₹7,500 crore to ₹8,000 crore. He said Congress leaders had opposed the move and demanded completion of the original plan.
After assuming office, the Congress government reviewed the projects and decided to continue them. Bhatti said the Cabinet concluded that stopping the works after spending substantial public funds would not serve the State’s interests.
Officials are now addressing deficiencies in distributary canals and reservoir capacity. They are also linking the Rajiv Canal with the Sagar Canal. In addition, they are constructing link canals and tunnels to fill the Wyra and Paleru reservoirs. Work to extend water supply to Sathupalli is also progressing.
Bhatti said the government had prepared a monthly implementation schedule. Regular reviews would ensure timely completion. He asserted that the government would complete the Sitarama Project without wasting public money and fulfil the long-pending irrigation needs of farmers.