Hyderabad: Roads, Buildings and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy directed irrigation officials to accelerate AMRP canal lining works and complete as much of the project as possible by July 31.
The minister reviewed the Rs 442-crore project on Thursday.
He inspected ongoing works at Narsing Batla, Kudavanpur and Gundlapalli villages in Nalgonda district.
Komatireddy expressed satisfaction with the progress.
However, he instructed officials to further increase the pace of execution.
AMRP canal lining works aimed at improving irrigation supply
Komatireddy said he had secured Rs 442 crore for the project after discussing the proposal with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
He urged officials to ensure that more water reaches downstream areas during the current crop season.
According to him, farmer welfare remains the foremost priority of the government.
Further, he said the state government is reviving long-pending irrigation projects under the Chief Minister’s leadership.
The canal lining project extends from Angadipet to Musi and covers about 136 kilometres.
Engineers completed excavation of the AMRP canal during 1985-86.
However, the government took up lining works nearly four decades later following Komatireddy’s initiative.
Officials said the project can help supply irrigation water more efficiently to about 2.20 lakh acres.
At present, farmers at the tail-end of the ayacut face difficulties because water flow weakens before reaching their fields.
Once officials finish the lining works, water will flow smoothly through the canal and reach the tail-end areas faster.
Additionally, the project can expand irrigation coverage across a larger ayacut.
Irrigation Chief Engineer Srinivas Reddy, Superintending Engineer Bhadru, Executive Engineer Nehru Naik and other officials accompanied the minister during the inspection.