Hyderabad: The Telangana government is ramping up efforts to complete two crucial irrigation projects—the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) and the Sitamma Sagar Multi-Purpose Project (SSMPP)—calling them vital to the agricultural future of southern Telangana.
At a high-level meeting held Saturday at Jala Soudha, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy led discussions alongside Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and top irrigation officials. Former MLA of Yellandu Gummadi Narsaiah, who had earlier met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy seeking drinking water for Yellandu, was also invited as a special guest in the meeting.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress government was committed to bringing irrigation to nearly 7.8 lakh acres across Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad. He took aim at the previous administration, blaming it for failing to secure a water allocation for the Sita Rama project. In contrast, he noted, the current Congress-led government had, in just 16 months, won approval from the Centre and the Central Water Commission to draw 67 TMC from the Godavari River.
Project engineers reported that 97% of the SRLIP’s main canal work was done. Three of the major pump houses have already passed wet runs, while a fourth is close to completion. However, progress on connecting canals like the Palair, Sathupalli Trunk, and Enkoor remains uneven, largely due to land acquisition issues and delays in forest clearances, especially near tunnels and critical infrastructure.
Determined to keep the momentum going, Uttam Kumar Reddy told officials to treat the current working season as make-or-break. “No more excuses. Push every segment forward,” he said. He directed that land acquisition be fast-tracked and hurdles related to compensatory afforestation be cleared immediately. Senior officials were ordered to conduct daily on-site inspections, and engineers were asked to prepare a comprehensive breakdown of project costs and land acquisition needs, including a roadmap to address existing bottlenecks.
To avoid funding delays, Uttam Kumar Reddy also demanded a formal note justifying urgent payments to contractors, so the Finance Department could process them without red tape. A follow-up review meeting has been set for one month from now to assess progress.
Turning to the Sitamma Sagar project, Uttam Kumar Reddy acknowledged that environmental and forest approvals are still pending. He flagged a ₹53.41 crore fine imposed by the National Green Tribunal for earlier works carried out without proper clearances. “We’re working on a legal strategy to get that cancelled,” he told the group. He also mentioned that the 282.8 MW hydroelectric component had been submitted to TGGENCO and is currently under review.
Uttam Kumar Reddy examined water flow diagrams and grilled officials about construction delays, particularly around Palair, where about 80–90 acres of forest land remain a sticking point and downstream structures are unfinished. He urged departments to work in tandem to remove these roadblocks quickly.
In response to concerns raised by Gummadi Narsaiah about water access in Yellandu, Reddy instructed a technical team to explore whether a link canal could be built without altering the existing design. “Let’s explore the option. Bring me your report,” he said.
Wrapping up, Reddy promised that both the Sita Rama and Sitamma Sagar projects would be completed on schedule. “This administration is fully committed to finishing what we’ve started. We’ll do whatever it takes to bring these projects to life for the people of Telangana,” he said.
The Congress Government was fully committed to completing the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) and the Sitamma Sagar Multi-Purpose Project (SSMPP) on a fast-track basis, as both projects are crucial to the future of irrigation and development in southern Telangana. pic.twitter.com/I4sWKNVvAd
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamINC) May 10, 2025
