Latest news with #IrrigationandCivilSupplies
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uttam reviews State-wide water availability, wants optimal use for Kharif
HYDERABAD Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday reviewed the availability of water across all major reservoirs in the State and instructed the irrigation authorities to prepare a scientific and practical plan for optimal utilisation of water during the ongoing Kharif season (vana kalam). The plan must take into account current reservoir levels, expected monsoon inflows and the total ayacut that could be served effectively, he said and noted that the Irrigation and Agriculture Departments had worked in tandem during the previous Kharif and Yasangi seasons, leading to a record production of 281 lakh tonnes of paddy, and made the State the largest paddy-producer in the country. Reviewing the water resources in both the Krishna and Godavari Basins, he assessed the readiness of the department to meet the irrigation needs of farmers. He told the officials to maintain the same level of coordination with District Collectors and field staff as in last year to ensure optimal water use for the present crop season. The Minister stressed for a clear and coordinated water release strategy to be in place based on real-time data, crop patterns and the geography of ayacut. 'Our primary objective is to ensure that no farmer suffers due to lack of water. The entire department must work proactively with foresight and accountability', Mr. Uttam Reddy said. Reviewing the monsoon preparedness, the Minister told the officials to take precautions to be taken before and during the periods of heavy rainfall. He directed the officials to closely monitor dams, reservoirs, canals and allied structures and take preventive measures to avoid breaches, flooding or infrastructure damage. The Minister instructed the department to stay in regular contact with the Disaster Management Department and ensure strong inter-agency coordination for flood control. 'Public safety and the structural integrity of all irrigation assets is non-negotiable. Officials must remain alert and responsive at all times', he added. Remove encroachments The meeting addressed long-pending land encroachment issues of properties belonging to the Irrigation Department. The Minister directed the officials to identify and evict illegal occupants from irrigation lands and facilities across Telangana, including the premises of Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute (WALAMTARI), and Engineering Research Laboratory (ERL). He announced that a statewide drive would be launched soon to reclaim and secure all irrigation department properties.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Plans afoot to resume SLBC tunnel work soon as Irrigation Dept. ropes in experts from Army
HYDERABAD The Irrigation Department is planning to resume work at the earliest on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, which was halted on February 22 following collapse of the tunnel roof, about 14 km inside from the mouth, near Domalapenta, in Nagarkurnool district, burying 8 workers alive. Another 10 km tunnel is to be excavated to meet the work done from the other side. This was decided at a meeting held here on Saturday by Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy for an in-depth review of the pending work. The 43.931 km tunnel work was taken up from two sides – from Srisailam reservoir side near Domalapenta, and from Dindi balancing reservoir on the other side. The work was stopped in 2023 following a problem in the tunnel boring machine (TBM) from Dindi reservoir side. It was stopped in the Domalapenta side much earlier, again due to some problems in the TBM. It was resumed on February 22 after replacing some parts of the TBM in the Domalapent end, but within four days, the roof collapse incident took place. Only two of the 8 bodies were recovered before the rescue operation was abandoned in April-end, following the advice of the experts over the danger in taking up debris removal in the last 50 meters of the tunnel excavated from Domalapenta side. The Minister stated that drilling and blasting (excavation) was to be taken up in an estimated 10 km length for completing the tunnel. Terming SLBC lifeline for Southern parts of Telangana, he said its completion must be treated as a top priority and executed with urgency. He explained that the SLBC tunnel would be taken up/resumed using the latest electromagnetic survey technology in collaboration with the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). To ensure precise planning and seamless execution, he instructed the officials to expedite the (aerial) LiDAR survey. Earlier in the day, he had a meeting with a team of NGRI scientists to finalise the technical modalities of the survey. He reiterated that cost would not be a constraint, but highest quality and speed must be maintained at every level. The meeting also marked the first formal interaction with Col. Parikshit Mehra, an acclaimed tunnel engineering expert who recently joined the Irrigation Department on deputation. The Minister expressed confidence that Col. Mehra's expertise would help resolve long-pending technical challenges and fast-track completion of the SLBC and other key tunnel projects. He stated that Gen. Harpal Singh, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, too would be appointed as an honorary Advisor in the Irrigation Department soon to strengthen the department's technical capacity and tunnel execution capabilities. The Minister also reviewed the progress of de-siltation and de-sedimentation works across the Krishna and Godavari basins, which he said were essential to enhance/restore the storage capacity and improve water management. He pointed out that water storage capacity of several irrigation projects had come down drastically due to sedimentation and silt accumulation.
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. to make presentation to Legislators, MPs on Banakacherla project tomorrow
HYDERABAD The Telangana Irrigation department led by Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy will make a powerpoint presentation on the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project being taken up by the Andhra Pradesh government to divert the Godavari water to the non-basin areas to explain it to the MLAs, MLCs, MPs, Chairpersons of Corporations and Commissions. The presentation will be made at Jyotirao Phule Praja Bhavan at 3 p.m. here on July 1 (Tuesday). Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister M. Bhatti Vikramarka and their Cabinet colleagues will attend the presentation. The presentation is being planned to explain the facts about the project planned by A.P. to the elected representatives of Telangana. The Minister has already held special meetings with the engineers/officials of the Irrigation department to make a presentation to the elected representatives explaining how the A.P.'s project would harm the interests of Telangana permanently and violate the riparian rights of Telangana.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BRS spreading false propaganda on safety of Jurala and Manjeera projects, says Irrigation Minister
HYDERABAD Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday condemned the 'false propaganda and highly condemnable disinformation' being spread by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders over the condition of old irrigation projects such as Jurala and Manjeera. He blamed the ten-year BRS rule for the issues being witnessed today in these projects, as their maintenance was neglected badly and they failed to carry out even routine maintenance. Mr. Reddy announced that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had personally taken interest in safeguarding the Jurala dam by acting decisively to sanction ₹100 crore for an alternative bridge. The Chief Minister's move is intended to reduce heavy vehicular traffic on the Jurala dam surface and prevent any long-term damage to the dam structure, he said. 'The Chief Minister is particular that Jurala must be protected and ensured the sanction of a new bridge,' the Irrigation Minister said. He explained that allegations regarding ropes and stroke gates at Jurala are a non-issue, and the BRS leaders are trying to spread false propaganda. The Minister reaffirmed that the Congress government is sincere and fully committed to properly maintaining all old projects, while building new ones for the long-term irrigation needs of Telangana. 'We are systematically restoring every project they ignored – Jurala, Manjeera, Nagarjuna Sagar, Sriramsagar, Kalwakurthy, Koilsagar, Bhima – with top priority for Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme,' he noted. He pointed out that no minimum operation and maintenance was carried out during the BRS rule from 2014 to 2023. There was no routine desiltation, no sediment or vegetation removal and no upgrades, he stated. 'Jurala's capacity alone has dropped by nearly 20–25% due to silt accumulation,' he noted. Meanwhile, Chief Engineer B. Venkata Ramana Reddy explained in detail the ongoing maintenance works at Jurala stating that all 62 gates were being regularly checked. Four rope replacements had already been completed, with another four scheduled soon, ensuring the dam's flood readiness by mid-July. 'Most of the 62 gates are in perfect working condition and there is no threat,' he clarified.
Hans India
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Government Prioritizes Irrigation: Restoration of Old Projects and Boost to Water Security, Says Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy
Gadwal: The Telangana State Government is moving forward with a prestigious and strategic approach to ensure the full utilization of every irrigation project in the state, said Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. On Saturday, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Animal Husbandry, Youth, and Sports Minister Vakkati Srihari, visited the Priyadarshini Jurala Project and Ryalampadu Reservoir in Jogulamba Gadwal district. They conducted a field inspection to review the technical and operational issues of the Jurala Project. Speaking later at a press conference held at the District Collector's office, the Irrigation Minister assured that the Jurala Project is structurally and technically safe. He explained that 58 out of 62 gates are functioning without interruption, while four gates are temporarily affected by rope issues, which pose no threat to the integrity of the dam. The Minister highlighted that Jurala has withstood major floods in the past and reiterated that all necessary safety measures are being implemented under the current government's supervision. Neglect by Past Government, Corrective Action by the Current Regime Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy criticized the previous administration for its gross negligence in the maintenance of irrigation projects over the past decade. He stated that the present government has prioritized correcting these mistakes by focusing on rigorous operation and maintenance (O&M) efforts within just 18 months of coming to power. He pointed out that although earlier technical reports advised restricting heavy vehicle movement on the Jurala dam, the previous government ignored those warnings. The current administration has now taken firm steps to resolve this, sanctioning ₹100 crore for the construction of an alternative road and vehicle bridge around the Jurala complex. The Minister also announced that routine maintenance is being carried out across all major irrigation projects such as Jurala, Manjeera, and Nagarjuna Sagar to prevent any future hazards. He added that desiltation and sedimentation removal works are underway to restore the full capacity of the Jurala Project, along with a ₹300 crore grant for the installation of a new gantry system. Enhancement of Ryalampadu Reservoir Capacity Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy further revealed plans to increase the storage capacity of the Ryalampadu Reservoir from 2 TMC to 4 TMC, which would greatly benefit the farming community. Land acquisition for the Mallamma Kunta Reservoir under the Tummilla Lift Irrigation Scheme is being expedited. Additionally, work on connecting the Ryalampadu Reservoir through the Jurala left canal is being fast-tracked. He stated that ₹25 crore has already been released for land acquisition related to the Nettempadu Project, with the remaining amount to follow soon. A total of ₹2,051 crore has been sanctioned for the Nettempadu Lift Irrigation Project, which the government aims to complete fully by December 2025. 11,000 New Irrigation Engineers Recruited In a significant move to address human resource gaps, the Minister mentioned that 11,000 new irrigation engineers have been recruited — a stark contrast to the previous administration which conducted no recruitments in this sector. He emphasized that this step demonstrates the government's dedication to strengthening the irrigation infrastructure. 'Our goal is to revitalize old projects and initiate new ones, ensuring water prosperity across the state,' Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy affirmed. 'Every farmer and every village should prosper — the government is committed to achieving this through responsible and transparent governance in the Irrigation Department.' Reliable and Resilient – Jurala Project Can Withstand Any Challenge: Minister Vakkati Srihari Minister Vakkati Srihari described the Jurala Project as a trustworthy and resilient structure, citing its performance during the 2009 floods, when it safely discharged 12 lakh cusecs of water without sustaining damage. He condemned false rumors being spread about the dam's safety and urged the public not to believe such misinformation. Gadwal MLA and Planning Commission Vice-Chair Also Speak Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy praised the Jurala project for transforming the region into a green belt and increasing irrigation water availability. He requested the minister to speed up the expansion of Ryalampadu's capacity to 4 TMC and expressed gratitude for the efforts to prevent heavy vehicle movement on the dam by constructing an alternate bridge. Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission Chinna Reddy stressed the need for coordination with Karnataka to improve water storage capacities. He also emphasized the importance of removing silt from reservoirs to enhance their holding capacity. Key Officials in Attendance The event was attended by District Collector B.Y.M. Santhosh, Vanaparthi MLA Megha Reddy, Narayanapet MLA Parnika Reddy, former MLA Sampath Kumar, Additional Collector Lakshmi Narayana, Engineer-in-Chief (O&M) Srinivas, Dam Safety Chief Engineer T. Prameela, Vanaparthi Chief Engineer A. Satyanarayana Reddy, and Gadwal Superintending Engineer Raheemuddin, among others.
