Hyderabad: Forum for Good Governance urged the Telangana government to temporarily stop launching new irrigation projects and instead prioritise completion and repair of existing schemes.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Forum president M. Padmanabha Reddy said large irrigation projects worldwide are often linked to massive investments, delays, environmental damage, displacement, and corruption.
The Forum stated that excessive availability of irrigation water and free electricity encouraged large-scale paddy cultivation at the expense of pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and horticulture crops. According to the organisation, this trend created procurement challenges because of overproduction of paddy.
FGG suggested that the Agriculture Department encourage crop diversification by providing incentives and support prices for alternative crops.
The Forum further stated that several major irrigation schemes in Telangana, including the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, and Srisailam Left Bank Canal, consumed lakhs of crores of rupees over the last 12 years without achieving expected outcomes.
FGG questions new irrigation projects proposal
The Forum opposed the proposed Tummidi Hatti project on the Pranahita River and argued that the government should focus on restoring existing infrastructure before launching another mega project.
FGG said the earlier Pranahita-Chevella project had already been abandoned and nearly Rs.1 lakh crore had been spent on the Kaleshwaram project by the end of 2023.
According to the Forum, repairing and restoring the Kaleshwaram project should become the immediate priority of the State government instead of initiating new large-scale irrigation schemes.
The organisation also stressed the need for careful planning and sustainable management of water resources to avoid further financial burden and operational challenges.