Uttam Orders Close Watch on All Irrigation Projects
The minister said the flood damage report showed 177 cases of breaches and damages across tanks, canals, and lift irrigation schemes in the state and that repairs and restoration works must be taken up without any loss of time
HYDERABAD: Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday called for strict vigilance over rising inflows into various reservoirs in the wake of the ongoing spell of heavy rain in catchment areas and directed irrigation department officials to take preventive measures to contain flood damages, and ensure appropriate supply of water to farmers during the current crop season.
The minister, chairing a video conference with senior department officials said the flood damage report showed 177 cases of breaches and damages across tanks, canals, and lift irrigation schemes in the state and that repairs and restoration works must be taken up without any loss of time.
He said most damage reports came from Adilabad, Mulugu, Mahbubnagar, and Suryapet districts and directed officials to prioritise permanent restoration works. “Any negligence on this front will not be tolerated,” he said.
He said while most reservoirs received significant inflows already, district-level tank filling also reflected the abundance of inflows. Out of 34,740 tanks across Telangana, as many as 12,023 were in surplus, while over 9,100 tanks were filled to 75-100 per cent of capacity, he said.
On irrigation preparedness, Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed engineers to ensure that farmers receive water as per crop calendars. The ongoing kharif season requires over 388 tmc ft of water, he said, adding officials must coordinate releases so that no ayacut area is left out, especially in regions that depend on minor irrigation.
Uttam Kumar Reddy asked engineers to operate the infrastructure at maximum efficiency to secure Godavari waters for current and future cropping cycles. The Minister asked for optimum use of water in Kadam, Yellampalli, and SRSP projects.
The minister, reiterating the government’s commitment towards farmers, said Telangana was facing a dual challenge - flood management in low-lying areas and irrigation support to farmers. He assured that the government would handle both with equal seriousness. “Farmers’ welfare is our top priority. At the same time, we will ensure that people in flood-hit regions are protected and provided immediate relief,” he said.
