The Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, a flagship project intended to irrigate up to 6 lakh acres in drought-prone regions of Telangana, will miss its December 2025 deadline and is now expected to be fully operational by mid-2027. Former Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah criticized the current government for underutilizing Godavari water and failing to activate key pumping units.
The National Water Development Agency has ruled out the possibility of enhancing the water shares of States from the 148 TMC sought to be diverted by linking the Godavari and Pennar rivers and emphasised consensus approach to serve national interests.
