Irrigation Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy secured a firm assurance from the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, CR Patil, that the Centre would address Telangana’s water concerns and speed up approvals for key irrigation projects.
During a meeting held during the second All India State Water Ministers’ Conference on Wednesday, Uttam also held discussions with Debashree Mukherjee, the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Sakhti, and requested immediate action on water disputes and funding for important projects.
Uttam raised concerns over Andhra Pradesh allegedly drawing excess water illegally from the backwaters of the Srisailam Dam and the right canal of the Nagarjuna Sagar Project during the Rabi season. He emphasised the urgent need for Central intervention to protect the Rabi crop in the irrigation areas of Nagarjuna Sagar, particularly in the erstwhile Nalgonda and Khammam districts.
Union Minister Patil said the Centre would immediately ensure fair water distribution and prevent unauthorised withdrawals.
Uttam requested the installation of telemetry systems at both Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar dams and at 35 points on the Krishna River to ensure transparency and prevent disputes. These systems would provide real-time data on water usage, ensuring adherence to allocated quotas. The Union Minister agreed, recognising the importance of accurate monitoring mechanisms.
Stressing the need for accelerated approvals and funding, Uttam urged the Centre to sanction key irrigation projects, including the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), the Sitarama Sagar Project and the Sammakka Sagar Project.
He also demanded that PRLIS should be granted the national project tag and full Central funding. Jal Shakti Secretary Mukherjee said the Centre would explore the possibility of providing infrastructure funds for Telangana’s irrigation projects at zero per cent interest with a 50-year repayment period. She also committed to granting all necessary approvals for the Sitarama Sagar Project within a month.
Uttam requested Central assistance for the cleaning and rejuvenation of the Musi River and the development of the Godavari-Musi link. The Union Minister acknowledged the significance of these projects and agreed to consider the proposals of the Telangana Government.
Uttam raised the lengthy inquiry by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) into the collapse of the Medigadda Project, which has been going on for a year. He requested early submission of the report and recommendations for remedial actions. Union Minister Patil said that the NDSA’s findings would be made available by February-end.
The Centre also said that Telangana should use the World Bank-assisted Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) funds for repairing the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam dams, as well as for de-siltation and sedimentation management in all irrigation projects.
Uttam emphasised the need for Central intervention to speed up proceedings of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II). An early judgement is crucial to ensure that Telangana receives its rightful water share.
