Complete Irrigation project works on a priority basis

• First priority is to provide irrigation facilities in six months.
• Release funds to projects in Krishna and Godavari basins through green channel
• Take up land acquisition in a humane approach.
• CM suggests on silt removal in projects

Chief Minister Sri A. Revanth Reddy ordered the officials to complete the irrigation projects on a priority basis in the state. The Irrigation authorities have been asked to take up the construction of the projects on the first priority which provide irrigation facilities and create new ayacut in six months.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to speed up the works of the projects which are to be completed in the next two years. The Irrigation department should prepare an action plan and expedite the work with a deadline to achieve the targets from time to time.

The CM observed that there is no use in spending money on projects which take five to six years to complete. The Chief Minister said the completion of the projects , which have already finished 75 per cent or more works, will help to provide irrigation facilities to more areas by next Kharif.

CM Revanth Reddy ordered the state Finance department to ensure that there is no difficulty in funding the important projects taken up in the Godavari basin and the Krishna basin. The finance officials are directed to pay the bills through green channel for the projects which provides irrigation facilities to more ayacut in a short time.

The officials have been advised to solve the hurdles for the completion of the works regularly. The officials informed the CM about the problems being faced in clearing the pending bills regarding the irrigation projects to the Energy department. In a quick response, the chief minister asked the officials to hold a joint meeting involving officials of the Irrigation Department , TRANSCO, GENCO and DISCOMS immediately.

To ensure the speed of the land acquisition, the Chief Minister suggested to hold a joint meeting of Revenue, Irrigation and other related wings and prepare an action plan based the decisions taken in the meeting immediately. The CM asked the Engineers and IAS officers to conduct field visits regularly to complete the project works quickly.

The Chief Minister reminded that the engineers in the Irrigation wing played an important role during the Telangana movement and urged them to discharge their duties with a commitment to fullfill the aspirations of 4 crore people of the Telangana State.

CM Revanth Reddy handed over the appointment orders to 687 newly employed AEEs at Jala Soudha on Thursday. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Special Chief Secretary to Finance Ramakrishna Rao, Irrigation Department Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja, Secretary Prashant Patil and ENC Anil Kumar participated in this meeting.

Later, CM held a review on pending irrigation projects in the state. Speaking on this occasion, the CM said that the newly recruited AEEs will reduce work burden on the engineering staff in the irrigation wing.

The Chief Minister gave directions to the officials to complete the land acquisition before taking up the project works and ensure no land problem arises in the middle of the works. The officials have been asked to adopt humane approach and hold a meeting with land owners before acquiring the lands.

The officials gave a PowerPoint presentation on Chinna Kaleshwaram, Modikuntavagu, Lower Pen Ganga, Chankha Korata, J Chokkarao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, Sripada Yellampalli Project, Koil Sagar Lift, Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthi Lift, Jahar Nettempadu Lift, Rajiv Bhima Lift, Eliminati Madhavareddy SLBC, Dindi Lift, SSRSP 2, Sadarmat barrage, Nilvai and Palemvagu projects and explained the status of the completion of the project works at the earliest.

The officials also submitted a report on the project-wise progress, requirement of time to complete the works and fund requirement to the CM. Later, the Chief Minister held a video conference with SEs and Chief Engineers.

The CM also instructed the authorities to study the mechanism adopted by other states in the removal of silt from major and medium projects in the state. The officials briefed the CM about the system adopted in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Irrigation Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja explained the CM about a recent study report which disclosed various projects are filled with 25 per cent silt and sand.
The Chief minister ordered the officials to study the mechanisms which are being used for the removal of silt again before adopting the national policy on silt removal.