Preparing for the summer season in advance, Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said that the State government is implementing measures to strengthen the Nagarjuna Sagar dam while expanding its ayacut.

He said this at the review meeting on the Nagarjuna Sagar project (NSP) held here. According to an official release, he instructed officials to prioritise the repair works of the NSP and its canal network. He also urged the local administration to expedite land acquisition for various irrigation projects in the district.

Reddy further highlighted that there are approximately 334 lift irrigation schemes, either fully operational or partially functional, with a combined ayacut of 469,138 acres, in the State.

Prioritise restoration

He directed officials to prioritise the restoration of all these projects to their full capacity, with a special focus on small lift irrigation schemes in terms of fund allocation and implementation. The minister emphasised that while major irrigation schemes require significant capital investment and recurring costs, smaller schemes demand comparatively lower funds and maintenance costs while offering a better cost-benefit ratio.

The minister stressed that small schemes are more effective in serving farmers and instructed officials to ensure they are fully functional by prioritising necessary repairs and related works to achieve the ayacut of 469,138 acres.

Nellikal Scheme

The minister directed officials to expedite the works on the Nellikal Lift Irrigation Scheme, which sources water from the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir. The scheme, estimated at ₹664.80 crore, aims to provide irrigation to approximately 24,624 acres. He instructed officials to divide the project into two phases and ensure the completion of Phase-I to irrigate 7,600 acres by the upcoming Kharif season. 

It was also decided to proceed with the construction of a link canal between the high level canal and the low level canal, passing through tanks such as Medawarm, Pothunur, Sangaram, Peddavoora, and Thungathurthy in Nalgonda district. The project, spanning 0–15,000 km and estimated to cost ₹62.26 crore, has acquired 43.31 acres of the required 65.02 acres of land. The minister directed officials to issue tenders and ensure the timely completion of the project. 

 Lifeline of Telangana

Reddy reiterated that the Nagarjuna Sagar project is a prestigious project and the lifeline of Telangana. He assured that the state government would take all necessary measures to strengthen the dam and fully utilise its potential to support the agricultural needs of the state.