Irrigation officials make plans for fast-tracking projects

Hyderabad: The irrigation department has estimated that it would require Rs 19,287 crore this year to complete 19 projects — small and medium — as per the state government’s declared priority to finish projects that can be completed in a year with a target to bring 6.5 lakh acres ayacut including areas that need stabilisation, under the plough.

As part of these efforts, irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy chaired a review meeting with officials where each of the 19 projects, and the stage they are in, and the works that need to be completed were discussed in detail.

Even as plans were discussed, it was decided that preparations should be made to inaugurate the Sadarmat barrage on Godavari in Nirmal district by this month-end, while the Rajiv Canal of the Sitarama project would be inaugurated on August 15 by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. According to officials, among the projects that have been lined up for completion are Nilwai in Mancherial district that will irrigate 13,000 acres, Chinna Kaleshwaram in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district to irrigate 45,000 acres, Modikuntavagu project in Mulugu district that will provide irrigation to 14,000 acres, and Chanaka Korata in Adilabad which will irrigate 51,000 acres.

While the Sitarama project is expected to provide irrigation to 3 lakh acres, the Devadula lift irrigation scheme is expected to provide irrigation and stabilisation to a total of 5.57 lakh acres. Among the other projects included in the priority list are Koilsagar, Narayanpet-Kodangal, and Dindi lift irrigation schemes.