Hyderabad: The Irrigation sector in the state has received a substantial allocation of Rs 22,000 crore in the budget for the 2024-2025 financial year. However, most of this money will be used to pay off loans taken for the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme and other projects.
Out of the total allocation, Rs 18,000 crore is needed to pay off debts this year. This leaves only Rs 4,000 crore for completing pending projects and maintaining existing ones.
Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka explained that the previous government failed to finish many projects that were almost complete. As a result, a lot of public money was spent without benefiting the people.
Vikramarka stated that the current government aims to complete these nearly finished projects. Six projects will be expanded this financial year, and 12 more in the next.
The Minister also revealed that the state has taken on 73 irrigation projects so far. Out of these, 34 are large projects and 39 are medium-sized. Of these, 42 projects have been completed, including 10 mega and 32 medium projects. Currently, 31 projects are still under construction, with 24 being large and seven medium-sized.
