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New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Minister Uttam pushes for swift SRLIP completion amid legal hurdles
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting at Jala Soudha with Cabinet colleagues from Khammam district — Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao — to strategise the swift completion of the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) and Sitamma Sagar Multi-Purpose Project (SSMPP), despite prevailing legal hurdles. The minister reaffirmed the state government's commitment to fast-tracking both projects and issued directions to officials. Former five-time MLA from Yellandu, Gummadi Narsaiah, was specially invited to the meeting to highlight local concerns. Addressing a joint press conference later in the day, Uttam stated that the projects aim to provide irrigation water to 7.8 lakh acres. He criticised the previous BRS regime for failing to allocate water to the projects, noting that the Congress government had successfully secured an allocation of 67 tmcft. He also acknowledged that work on the SSMPP had been halted due to environmental violations, which led to a penalty imposed by the Centre. During the meeting, Uttam announced that he would personally hold monthly review sessions to monitor the pace of work. Engineers provided a detailed status update, reporting that 97% of the SRLIP's main canal works were completed, and three of the four major pump houses had already undergone successful wet runs.
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Uttam directs officials to expedite works on SRLI, SSMP projects
Hyderabad: Getting serious over the delay in the completion of the works, State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has asked the officials to take up the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) and the Sitamma Sagar Multi-Purpose Project (SSMPP) on a fast-track basis. The Minister directed the senior officials to monitor all land and forest clearance-related issues by being physically present at the site on a daily basis and also asked the engineering officials to personally brief him on the total cost, progress, and hurdles in land acquisition. In the high-level review meeting on the two projects attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and senior officials, Uttam said, 'This is the working season. Despite the constraints, you must move forward with full speed. We cannot afford any more delays.' He directed that land acquisition should be expedited across all segments of the project, and that 'issues related to compensatory afforestation must be addressed without further back-and-forth', Uttam told the officials. He noted that some works were earlier taken up without approvals, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had since issued a penalty of Rs 53.41 crore. 'We are preparing a legal strategy to get the penalty cancelled', he added. The Minister also asked for a note justifying priority payments to contractors and stakeholders, so that the matter could be placed before the Finance Department through proper channels. He emphasised the importance of regular follow-ups and said another review would be held in exactly one month to assess improvements. Uttam Kumar Reddy also responded positively to the appeal made by former MLA Gummadi Narsaiah, who was also present in the meeting, for ensuring water supply to Yellandu. He directed that a technical team study the proposal and meet him with their assessment. The Minister reiterated that the Sitamma Sagar project would also include a hydroelectric component and the government had submitted a 282.8 MW plan to TG GENCO, which was under process. It was the present Congress government which had convinced the Centre and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to allocate 67 tmcft of Godavari river water for the project, he claimed.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress govt fast tracks Sita Rama LI, Sitamma Sagar projects
Hyderabad: has said the Congress govt is fully committed to completing the (SRLIP) and the Sitamma Sagar multi-purpose project (SSMPP) on a fast-track basis, as both projects are crucial to the future of irrigation and development in south Telangana. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The minister directed senior officials of the irrigation department to monitor all land and forest clearance-related issues by being physically present at the site on a daily Kumar Reddy held a review meeting at Jala Soudha at Irrum Manzil on the two projects along with deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Saturday. Yellandu former MLA Gummadi Narsaiah was also specially invited to the meeting to present local speaking to the media, the minister said the completion of these long-pending irrigation projects would enable the govt to provide assured irrigation water to nearly 7.80 lakh acres spread across Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad districts. He recalled that during the previous govt's tenure, no allocation of water was made to the Sita Rama project. However, the present Congress govt, within just 16 months in office, convinced the Centre and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to allocate 67 TMC of Godavari water for the officials gave a detailed presentation on the status of works and pending issues. They reported that 97% of the SRLIP's main canal works were completed, and three major pump houses had already undergone successful wet runs. The fourth pump house was under execution and expected to be completed soon. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed unhappiness over the delays and instructed officials to treat the matter with the , the minister said the govt was taking steps to secure pending environmental and forest clearances. He said that some works were earlier taken up without approvals, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) slapped a penalty of 53.41 crore. "We are preparing a legal strategy to get the penalty cancelled," he said. He reiterated that the Sitamma Sagar project would also include a hydroelectric component and the govt submitted a 282.8 MW plan to TGGENCO, which was under process.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Irrigation Minister asks engineers to fast-track Sita Rama and Sitamma Sagar projects
HYDERABAD Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday stated that the Congress government was committed to complete Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) and Sitamma Sagar Multi-Purpose Project (SSMPP) on a fast-track basis, as both the projects hold key to the future of irrigation and development in southern Telangana. The Minister chaired a high-level review meeting and it was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, the three hailing from combined Khammam district, and senior officials from the Irrigation department. Former Yellandu MLA Gummadi Narsaiah also participated in the meeting as a special invitee to present local concerns. Speaking to the officials, Mr. Uttam Reddy said the completion of the two long-pending projects would enable the government to provide assured irrigation facilities to nearly 7.80 lakh acres spread across Khammam, Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Mahabubabad districts. He recalled that the previous government did not even get water allocation done to the Sita Rama project. However, the Congress government had convinced the Centre and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to allocate 67 tmcft of Godavari river water for the project, the Minister said. Engineers gave a detailed presentation on the status of works and pending issues. They noted that 97% of the SRLIP's main canal works were completed and the wet run of three major pump-houses was conducted successfully already. The fourth pump-house of the project was under execution and was expected to be completed soon. The Palair Link Canal, Sathupalli Trunk Canal and Enkoor Link Canal works were at various stages of progress with some bottlenecks still remaining, particularly related to land acquisition, forest clearances and structures near tunnels. 'We can't afford any more delays and you are expected to move forward with full speed despite some constraints as this is the working season', he told the engineers. He wanted the authorities concerned to expedite land acquisition across all segments and the issues related to compensatory afforestation must be addressed without further delays. Further, he asked the engineers to prepare a note with justification for priority payments to contractors and other stakeholders so that the matter could be placed before the Finance department. On Sitamma Sagar, the Minister said the government was taking steps to secure pending environmental and forest clearances. He noted that some works were earlier taken up without approvals and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a penalty of ₹53.41 crore. 'We are preparing a legal strategy to get the penalty cancelled', he stated. He responded positively to the appeal made by Mr. Gummadi Narsaiah for water supply to Yellandu by asking the authorities to study the proposal and revert back.
