‘Devadula pumps to run 24x7’

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday announced that the Telangana government has begun implementing key decisions taken during the recent Group of Ministers' review of the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, with nine pumping units set to operate round the clock from Tuesday night to maximise water lifting from the Godavari River.

Speaking to media persons at the Secretariat, the Minister said the Government's immediate focus was to ensure water security for farmers and drinking water needs across the State rather than engage in political arguments. He said engineers had been instructed to operate all nine pumping units at full capacity to fill 22 reservoirs benefiting nine districts, helping address the emerging water scarcity caused by deficient rainfall.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said every operational decision was being guided by technical requirements and the need to protect water availability during the uncertain monsoon season. He reiterated that safeguarding farmers' interests and ensuring drinking water security remained the Government's highest priority.

Responding to criticism from BRS leader T. Harish Rao, the Minister accused the BRS of attempting to divert public attention from the failures of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. He said those responsible for key engineering and administrative decisions that resulted in the structural problems at the Medigadda barrage must first explain their actions before criticising the Government's efforts on Devadula.

The Minister questioned the decision taken during the previous BRS Government to replace the original sheet pile foundation proposed in the Detailed Project Report with a secant pile foundation at Medigadda. He said records placed before the Judicial Commission highlighted the design change and asserted that the BRS must be held accountable for the engineering decisions that led to the present condition of Kaleshwaram.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also demanded that Harish Rao respond to BRS MLC K. Kavitha's public allegation that Kaleshwaram contractors had paid Rs 1,400 crore to the BRS, stating that the people deserved a clear explanation.

Reiterating the Government's commitment to Devadula, the Minister said land acquisition, statutory clearances and construction activities were being expedited on mission mode to complete the project by December 2027. Once completed, the scheme is expected to provide irrigation to nearly 5.6 lakh acres while substantially strengthening drinking water security across northern Telangana.