Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has called on the Central Water Commission (CWC) to accelerate the approval of water allocations for two major irrigation projects in the state—Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage.
In a meeting with CWC Chairman Atul Jain held in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Minister requested swift action on pending approvals and raised broader issues related to inter-state water disputes, infrastructure safety, and the backwater effects of the Polavaram project.
The Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project, launched in 2015, is intended to irrigate about 12.3 lakh acres across the drought-prone districts of Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Vikarabad, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda. It aims to lift 2 TMC of Krishna River water per day during the 60-day flood period, using a network of five pump houses.
Uttam Kumar Reddy asked for a total water allocation of 90 TMC for the scheme, with an initial approval of 45 TMC in the first phase. He noted that Telangana had completed all procedural and documentation requirements laid down by the CWC.
The Minister also sought an early nod for 44 TMC of water for the Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage at Thupakulagudem in Mulugu district. The barrage is designed to stabilise irrigation over 5.55 lakh hectares under the J. Chokka Rao Devadula and Sriram Sagar Lift Irrigation Schemes. It also aims to supply drinking water to nearby villages. The total proposed storage is 6.94 TMC.
Highlighting the urgency, he stated that the agrarian communities depending on these projects should not be subjected to repeated drought-induced hardships and urged the CWC to act without further delay.
The Minister also raised concerns over the unauthorised diversion of Krishna River water by Andhra Pradesh. He asked the CWC to install telemetry devices at key locations to monitor water flows and detect any irregular usage. He mentioned that Telangana had already released its share of funds for this purpose to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
Uttam Kumar Reddy further addressed the possible impact of Polavaram backwaters on Telangana’s border villages. He urged the Commission to carry out a fresh assessment and implement protective measures to prevent flooding and displacement in the affected areas.
The Minister referred to the recent National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), which raised concerns about the structural condition of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. He said the NDSA had advised the Telangana Government to seek technical oversight from the CWC for a comprehensive review.
He requested the CWC to work with the state on a detailed geotechnical and structural assessment of KLIS and to recommend appropriate remedial actions.
Following the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed optimism, stating that the CWC Chairman responded positively and assured that the Commission would take prompt action on the state’s representations.
