Uttam urges Centre to expedite nod for pending irrigation projects in Delhi meeting

In a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Hyderabad's Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised the urgent need for the Centre to expedite clearances and provide financial backing for delayed irrigation projects in the Krishna and Godavari river basins.

Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday urged the Centre to expedite clearances and extend financial support for long-pending irrigation projects in the Krishna and Godavari river basins. In a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in Delhi, Reddy pressed for immediate approvals.

Stating that the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation project was of top priority for the State to extend irrigation support to southern districts, he reminded the Union minister that the fresh Detailed Project Report (DPR) was already submitted to the Central Water Commission and sought his intervention for hastening the clearances. The Minister also demanded approval for the Sammakka Sagar project, pointing out that earlier objections had been addressed.

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He raised concerns over Andhra Pradesh’s attempts to revive projects such as Polavaram–Banakacherla under different names and warned against Karnataka and Maharashtra diverting floodwaters, which could potentially harm Telangana’s downstream interests.

He also urged the Centre to prevent Karnataka from raising the Almatti dam height to 524.25 metres despite a Supreme Court stay.