Latest news with #UttamKumarReddy
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Uttam orders urgent completion of SLBC tunnel, ropes in top experts to fast-track work
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials to immediately resume the remaining tunnelling operations, including drilling and blasting, of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC). Calling SLBC a crucial lifeline for Telangana, he emphasised that its completion must be treated as a top priority and executed with urgency. An estimated 10 kilometres of tunnel work remains to be completed. On Saturday, the minister held a review meeting with officials of the Irrigation department to discuss various issues. During the meeting, he noted that the SLBC tunnel work is being undertaken 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 directed officials to expedite the aerial LIDAR survey. Earlier in the day, he met NGRI scientists to finalise the technical modalities of the survey. He reiterated that cost would not be a constraint, but quality and speed must be maintained at the highest standards. The meeting also marked the first formal interaction with Colonel Parikshit Mehra, a globally acclaimed tunnel engineering expert who recently joined the Irrigation Department on deputation. The Minister expressed confidence that Mehra's expertise would help resolve long-pending technical challenges and fast-track the completion of the SLBC and other key tunnel projects. He also announced that General Harpal Singh, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, would soon be appointed as an Honorary Advisor to strengthen the department's technical capacity and execution capabilities. Meanwhile, Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed officials to prepare a scientific and practical plan for optimal utilisation of water during the ongoing Kharif season. He said the plan must account for current reservoir levels, expected monsoon inflows, and the total ayacut that can be effectively served. He stressed the need for a clear and coordinated water release strategy based on real-time data, crop patterns, and the geography of ayacut areas. '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,' he said. He directed officials to closely monitor dams, reservoirs, canals, and related infrastructure, and to take preventive measures to avoid breaches, flooding, or damage. He instructed the department to stay in regular contact with the Disaster Management Wing and ensure strong inter-agency coordination for flood control.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM launches new ration cards; 80% of Telangana now gets free fine rice
The Telangana government created history in its welfare journey, launching the Statewide distribution of over 5.61 lakh new ration cards in a single phase on Monday, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy along with his Cabinet colleagues launching it in Tungaturthy in Suryapet district. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Reddy said his government is determined to restore the self-respect of the poor through schemes like ration cards, farmers' insurance and loan waivers. He said 5.6 lakh new ration cards are sanctioned, 26 lakh people were added to the ration system and 3.10 crore people were receiving fine rice. He also promised to bring Godavari waters to the Tungaturthy through Devdula project. Food and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy called the move a 'revolution in public service delivery' and every eligible person would now be guaranteed a ration card. He said the BRS regime had denied lakhs of poor families their right to food, not only by refusing to issue new ration cards but also by blocking updates like the addition or deletion of family members, causing severe hardships for growing households. The launch marked the first large-scale ration card distribution in over 11 years, taking the total number of ration card holders to 95.56 lakh households, covering more than 3.09 crore beneficiaries, he said. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the ration card drive was part of a broader transformation that had made Telangana the first State in the world to provide 6 kg of fine rice per person to 80% of its population, entirely free of cost. The Minister said the scheme represented true welfare, inspired by the vision of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, under whose leadership the UPA government had passed the National Food Security Act. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy revealed that the Telangana government was now spending ₹13,000 crore annually to procure and distribute fine rice. No other State offers this level of quality grain free of cost. He also blamed the BRS government stating the Civil Supplies Corporation was crippled with ₹59,000 crore in liabilities and ₹11,000 crore in accumulated losses. The Congress government had not only revived the department but turned it into the engine of India's most ambitious welfare programme.
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Tummala Nageshwar Rao urges to release water for irrigation
Farmers have urgently urged Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to facilitate the release of water for irrigation amid alarming reports of crops wilting due to a severe water shortage. In light of these pressing concerns, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy held discussions with Collectors and representatives from the Irrigation Department to tackle the escalating issue. Minister Reddy addressed the delays in water release from the Nagarjuna Sagar project and has advocated for the release of water from the Sitarama Project instead. Meanwhile, Minister Tummala engaged with Collectors from Khammam and Bhadradri districts to further explore solutions to the crisis. Minister Uttam has indicated that a decision on the water release will be made after a review scheduled for later today.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana Deputy CM criticises BRS for spending Rs 1.45 lakh crore without irrigation gains
HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Wednesday said that with just `42,000 crore, irrigation water could have been provided to 24 lakh acres from the Godavari river. Instead, under the guise of 'Godavari redesign', the BRS government spent Rs 1.45 lakh crore but failed to provide irrigation to even a single additional acre. During a PowerPoint presentation on the river waters issue, he said: 'Had the BRS regime completed the Krishna river projects initiated by the earlier Congress government, the ongoing Krishna water dispute would not have arisen.' The deputy chief minister said that Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy clearly explained how the present government was making sincere efforts to protect Telangana's rightful share in the Krishna and Godavari waters. He recalled that in 2004, the then Congress government fast-tracked projects on the Krishna river, anticipating that future allocations would be made based on the status of ongoing projects. 'If the BRS, after coming to power, had completed the irrigation projects launched by the Congress, Telangana would have fully utilised the Krishna waters today and there would have been no scope for present crisis,' he added. Vikramarka said that by spending just `42,000 crore, Ichampally, Thummidihatti, Tupakulagudem, Devadula, Indira Sagar and Rajiv Sagar would have been completed by now. He alleged that BRS leaders looted over `1 lakh crore in the name of Kaleshwaram, spent public funds, but failed to deliver water.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CM will launch distribution of new ration cards on July 14, says Uttam
Hyderabad: State Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on Wednesday that the state government would begin distributing new ration cards from July 14 at Tirumalagiri in Tungaturthi constituency. The programme will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, with Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka also participating. The Minister directed collectors to complete verification of all eligible applications by July 13 to ensure no deserving family was left out. Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed that the beneficiary selection process must be transparent and corruption-free. 'The government's focus is to ensure that every eligible person gets a ration card without any discrimination,' he said, adding that review meetings will now be held twice a month to maintain strict oversight. Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that Telangana's flagship free fine rice scheme delivers 6 kg of rice per person every month to nearly 3.10 crore people, about 84% of the population, through fair price shops, at a cost of over Rs 13,000 crore annually. In June, July, and August, the state provided three months' worth of rations at once to ensure uninterrupted supply, distributing 18 kg per person, 105 kg per Antyodaya family, and 30 kg per Annapurna family. He sharply criticised the previous BRS government for neglecting food security and ration card enrolment. 'At the time of Telangana's formation in 2014, there were 89.73 lakh white ration cards, but the BRS added only around 49,000 new cards, mostly during by-elections, ignoring lakhs of families,' Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out. He said the Congress government had received lakhs of new applications and was addressing them in a mission-driven manner.
