Chief Minister Directs Expedited Land Acquisition for Irrigation Projects
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed ministers, MLAs, and officials to expedite land acquisition and complete irrigation projects in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.
Land Acquisition and Project Progress
At a meeting with ministers, MLAs from the district, and top government officials, the Chief Minister reviewed the status of various projects, including the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS).
- Ministers, MLAs, and officials were instructed to conduct field visits and complete the land acquisition process for PRLIS on a war footing.
- The government will release the required funds for land acquisition, and all pending bills related to the project will be cleared.
Government Commitment to Irrigation Projects
Two ministers from the district, Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, were directed to hold review meetings with officials regarding irrigation projects in the Palamuru region and to continuously monitor the progress of these projects.
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite allocating Rs 35,000 crore for pumps, motors, and surge pools, only Rs 25,000 crore was actually spent over a period of 10 years.
- Nearly Rs 1 lakh crore may be required to complete PRLIS.
- The previous BRS government was blamed for not carrying out any significant work on the project.
Congress Government's Commitment
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress government would complete PRLIS and other projects in the Mahabubnagar district.
- The government has written to the Union jal shakti ministry to include the Jurala project under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).
- The projects in the Palamuru region are being treated on par with major priority schemes such as Devadula, SLBC, and Sitarama projects.
Addressing Sedimentation Issues
The state government is also taking steps to address severe sedimentation issues that have reduced the Jurala reservoir's storage capacity to below eight TMC.
- Proposals have been submitted to the jal shakti ministry seeking assistance under the DRIP.
- Desiltation works under DRIP would significantly improve the dam safety, storage capacity, and operational efficiency.
PRLIS and Associated Irrigation Projects
The PRLIS and associated irrigation projects are regarded as flagship initiatives aimed at irrigating nearly 12.3 lakh acres in the drought-prone districts of southern Telangana while also providing drinking water and industrial supply.
- Phase-I of PRLIS envisages drinking water supply to 1,226 villages across six districts — Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Vikarabad, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda.