The State Government of Telangana has proposed to take 100 tmcft of water from the Koyna project in Maharashtra to meet the irrigation needs in the state. The government is willing to pay for the power generation from the hydroelectric project at Koyna in exchange for the water supply. Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, discussed the challenges faced by Telangana in addressing the demand for water. The government is also planning to seek 10 TMC of Krishna water from Karnataka to fulfill the drinking water needs. Additionally, they will pursue the issue of water supply from the Koyna project in Maharashtra.
The government aims to create a new ayacut (area of land brought under irrigation) of approximately 5 lakh acres by the end of this year. They have requested national project status for the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and are awaiting funding from the central government. The minister emphasized the need for optimal expenditure and prioritizing projects that can generate new ayacuts quickly.
The government plans to create new ayacuts within 6 months to one year and targets a total of 4.5 to 5 lakh acres by December 2024. The Minister mentioned a vigilance enquiry into the Medigadda barrage collapse and reassured that those responsible will be held accountable. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has also requested a judicial inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project.
