Uttam Says Harish Lying, Govt Putting Devadula to Full Use
Nine pumping units to operate round the clock to fill 22 reservoirs across nine districts
Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday announced that pumping of water using the Devadula lift irrigation scheme (DLIS) was being stepped up, with nine of the project’s 10- pumps set to start working from Tuesday night. The government was fully implementing the assurances made during the recent group of ministers' review of the scheme, he said.
During an informal chat with reporters at the Secretariat, Uttam Kumar Reddy, responding to criticism by BRS leader T. Harish Rao, said “as promised during our recent review of the Devadula project, nine pumping units will be operating at full capacity from tonight (Tuesday). They will function round the clock to maximise lifting from the Godavari and fill the 22 reservoirs serving nine districts.”
He said the government's immediate priority was “to secure water supplies for people rather than indulge in political exchanges. Every operational decision is being guided by technical requirements and the need to protect farmers and ensure drinking water security.”
Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “if Harish Rao wants to debate irrigation, he must first explain the decisions taken when he served as irrigation minister. Instead of spreading misinformation about Devadula, he should answer why the original foundation design at Medigadda was changed during the BRS regime and who authorised those decisions.”
He said the Congress government was committed to completing the Devadula project, and work was going on in a mission mode. Pending land acquisition, statutory clearances and construction works were being expedited so that the project could be completed by December 2027.
“Once fully completed, Devadula will irrigate nearly 5.6 lakh acres and strengthen drinking water security across northern Telangana,” Uttam Kumar Reddy added.
