Hyderabad: Telangana Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will inaugurate the Sitarama Project pump houses on August 15.
This announcement followed their participation in an important trial run of three pump houses under the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project on Sunday. The trial run, which took place in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, was a key step before the project’s official launch by the Chief Minister on August 15.
The Ministers started their visit at the Sitarama Sagar project located at Poosukudem in Mulkalapalli mandal, Aswaraopet constituency, where they initiated the second pump house trial run. They then went to Kamalapuram village, also in Mulkalapalli mandal, to start the trial run of the third pump house. Their tour concluded in Wyra, Khammam district, where they checked the preparations for a public meeting scheduled for August 15, which will be addressed by the Chief Minister during the project’s inauguration.
In a media address, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy reaffirmed the Congress government’s promise to provide irrigation to every acre under the Sitarama Project by August 2026. He mentioned that the Chief Minister would not only inaugurate the project on August 15 but also introduce a Rs 2 lakh loan waiver scheme for farmers. This initiative aims to significantly support the farming community and strengthen the government’s commitment to agricultural development.
The Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project has received full approval from the Godavari River Management Board and will get 67 TMC of water from the Godavari River. Uttam highlighted that this water allocation is essential to ensure irrigation for every acre within the project’s area by the August 2026 deadline. Additionally, the project includes renaming the Enkoor Link Canal to the Rajiv Canal, which will help maintain irrigation stability across the region.
Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized the importance of speeding up the construction of distributary canals and critical infrastructure components, such as the Yatalakunta and Zloorupadu tunnels, which are needed to bring Godavari water to the Palair region. Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy criticized the previous administration for inefficiency and wasteful spending, noting that the project’s cost ballooned from Rs 2,400 crore to Rs 18,000 crore under the pretext of redesigning. He commended the current Congress government for securing all necessary approvals and water allocations while managing costs. He pointed out that the Congress government has ensured the project will benefit a larger area and meet the longstanding needs of farmers.
