Hyderabad: Telangana has called on the Union Government to urgently clear long-pending irrigation proposals. Moreover, it asked to restrain Karnataka from expanding the Almatti Dam. The State warned that continued delays and unilateral actions are undermining the State’s water rights.
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy raised these demands during meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday. He met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and Central Water Commission (CWC) Chairman Atul Jain. He submitted detailed representations highlighting the procedural bottlenecks in the Krishna and Godavari basins. These issues, he said, were stalling critical irrigation projects and impacting farmers in drought-prone and backward regions.
Reddy flagged the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) as the State’s top priority. Telangana had submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the CWC. They justified the project based on the reallocation of 90 TMC: 45 TMC from non-realisation of minor irrigation schemes and 45 TMC from the Godavari diversion. Despite a full technical response from the Chief Engineer, Nagarkurnool, on 6 May 2025, the reallocation clearance remained pending. The Minister warned that any further delay would lead to cost escalations. Furthermore, it would continue the deprivation of irrigation benefits for arid districts.
Telangana flags flood diversion risks, Almatti violation, and KWDT delay
Reddy also urged appraisal of the Sammakka Sarakka (Sammakka Sagar) Project. He noted that Telangana had addressed all technical comments from the CWC’s Irrigation Planning Directorate. Moreover, the State was expediting any pending clarifications. He requested that the Centre direct the CWC to prioritise appraisal so execution could begin promptly.
Discussing the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II), the Minister said Telangana’s inherited projects were being held up due to lack of final water apportionment. These projects were initiated under surplus-water permissions during the undivided Andhra Pradesh era. He appealed to the Centre to ensure the Tribunal accelerates its hearings. This would enable statutory clearance of these ongoing schemes and facilitate the State’s full utilisation of its share.
Reddy strongly opposed Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), saying its reliance on “flood waters” violates appraisal norms requiring 75% dependability. He pointed out that national guidelines and the NITI Aayog’s 2010 framework do not accept flood or surplus waters as a legal basis for DPRs. Telangana had already submitted formal objections. Maharashtra and Karnataka had also written to the Centre, raising similar concerns. Maharashtra stated that Vidarbha and Marathwada need any such flood flows for their own drought-hit regions. Meanwhile, Karnataka cited its intent to use 112 TMC from the Krishna in lieu of Godavari diversion through PBLP. Reddy noted that, despite objections from three States and statutory reservations, the CWC was proceeding with appraisal of the project. He urged the Ministry to restrain all agencies from processing the PBLP in any form.
Minister also raised alarm over Karnataka’s Government Order
The Minister also raised alarm over Karnataka’s Government Order dated 9 October 2025. This Order allows land acquisition up to +524.256 meters at Almatti Dam, which he said violates the Supreme Court’s stay against raising the dam height. He warned that acquiring land at that level, involving nearly ₹70,000 crore, would directly endanger Telangana’s assured Krishna river flows. He requested immediate intervention to stop Karnataka’s actions, calling them a serious threat to the State’s existing projects.
In addition, Reddy sought Centre’s approval for seven irrigation proposals under the PMKSY-AIBP for 2026–2031. These include: Dr B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Project, Narayanpet Kodangal LIS, Integrated Sita Rama LIS, Sitamma Sagar Multipurpose Project, PRLIS, Mukteshwar (Chinna Kaleshwaram) LIS, Modikuntavagu, and Chanaka-Korata distributary system. Four of these Mukteshwar LIS, Chanaka-Korata, Modikuntavagu, and Sitamma Sagar—had already been deemed techno-economically viable by the Advisory Committee. Investment clearance proposals had been filed for all.
The Minister said prompt decisions from the Union Government were vital to completing these large-scale works. He emphasized safeguarding irrigation access for Telangana’s backward, tribal, and drought-hit regions. He called for political and administrative will at the national level to resolve these long-pending issues. This would secure the State’s legal entitlements.