Uttam showcases Telangana model, presses for unified national water security framework at Delhi summit

Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has urged the Centre to adopt a unified national water security framework, proposing one plan for every village and town linked to a State asset register. Speaking at the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari summit in New Delhi, he highlighted Telangana’s achievements in water conservation and sought Central support for irrigation projects.

Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy called for a unified national water security framework under which every water conservation project would have a unique identity, a designated custodian and measurable outcomes. He proposed one water security plan for every village and town, linked to a unified State asset register and common performance-measurement system.

Addressing the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari departmental summit in New Delhi, Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised the need to treat water security as a public mission covering drinking water, agriculture, rural livelihoods, urban resilience and environmental protection. He suggested geo-tagging every water asset and linking it to its funding source and responsible agency to prevent fragmented planning, duplication and poor maintenance.

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Highlighting Telangana’s work, the Minister said the State was recognised as the best-performing State under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari in 2025, while 13 districts figured among India’s top 50 for water conservation. Of 44,360 water bodies and tanks, works have been taken up in 28,739 and restoration completed in 22,428.

He said Telangana’s 159 major and medium reservoirs had a combined capacity of about 929 TMCft, with studies of 18 projects indicating a loss of 40.97 TMCft, or 22.95 per cent, to sedimentation. Pilot desiltation is under way in the Lower Manair, Mid Manair and Kadem reservoirs.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also sought Central assistance for eligible irrigation projects in Telangana under PMKSY, flexibility under FRBM norms, Infrastructure Development Fund loans, environmental clearances and support for reservoir-capacity studies and restoration. He also sought cooperation in inter-State water issues. He urged the Centre and Central Water Commission to strengthen coordination with States and deploy artificial intelligence for rainfall and inflow forecasting, reservoir operations and evidence-based water management.