Hyderabad: Key Milestone Achieved in Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project
Hyderabad: On August 15, a significant milestone was reached in the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project (SLIP) with the formal activation of pumps at the BG Kothur, Pusugudem, and Kamalapuram pump houses. The event was marked by the presence of Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, and other senior ministers.
Addressing the media post-inauguration, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the substantial progress made over the past 7-8 months and reaffirmed the project’s completion by August 15, 2026. The completed 9 km-long Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project-Wyra link canal aims to stabilize 118,000 acres under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) by channeling Godavari waters to the Krishna basin as needed.
The project has been allocated 67.05 tmcft of water, with final approval from the Central Water Commission (CWC) expected within the next 15-20 days. Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao described the project’s advancement as the realization of a lifelong goal, noting that only 36 percent of the work was completed under the previous BRS government, with an expenditure of Rs 7,500 crore. He estimated an additional Rs 8,000 crore is required to complete the project.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy emphasized the need to develop the distributary system and suggested constructing reservoirs to expand the irrigation area and optimize water usage.
In his remarks, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy refuted former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao’s claim that 90 percent of the project was completed during the BRS rule. He argued that, contrary to claims, only about Rs 7,500 crore was spent, less than 40 percent of the project’s estimated cost. Revanth also criticized the previous administration for delays and inefficiencies, highlighting the current government’s efforts to address and prioritize pending projects based on their completion status.
Revanth further criticized the BRS government for its handling of the state’s economy, suggesting that current financial strains are a result of the previous administration’s mismanagement.
