Hyderabad: In a strong move to address Telangana’s irrigation and water-sharing challenges, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy met with Central Water Commission (CWC) Chairman Atul Jain in New Delhi on Wednesday. The main goal was to speed up approvals for two crucial water projects and tackle other pressing water-related issues affecting the state.
The meeting mainly focused on two major projects — the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and the Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage. These projects are critical to supplying water for agriculture and drinking in several regions of Telangana.
Reddy pushed for a total water allocation of 90 tmcft for the PRLIS. He asked for an immediate release of 45 tmcft in the first phase. He emphasized that Telangana had already followed all the required procedures and submitted the necessary documents to the CWC.
The Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage, located in Thupakulagudem of Mulugu district, is designed to support irrigation across 5.55 lakh hectares. It will benefit areas that fall under the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Sriram Sagar Project (Stages I and II). With a storage capacity of 6.94 tmcft, the barrage will also supply drinking water to many villages nearby.
The Minister asked the CWC to quickly approve 44 tmcft of water for the Sammakka-Sarakka project. He explained that Telangana had already submitted all maps and paperwork, and urged the commission to act fast so that farmers don’t continue to suffer from drought.
Reddy also raised concerns about the illegal diversion of Krishna River water by Andhra Pradesh. He urged the CWC to install telemetry equipment at key points along the river. These devices would help track water flow and stop unauthorized usage. He mentioned that Telangana had already paid its share to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for this project.
Another serious issue discussed was the backwater risk from the Polavaram project. Reddy asked the CWC to reassess the impact on border villages in Telangana. He stressed the need for protective measures to prevent flooding and displacement of residents.
The meeting highlighted Telangana’s continued efforts to secure fair water access and protect the interests of its farming and rural communities.
