HYDERABAD
The Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, has emphasized the government’s commitment to maximizing the usage of Godavari waters for the benefit of farmers across Telangana. His remarks underscore the ongoing efforts to revive the vital Kaleshwaram project barrages.
Joined by colleagues D. Sridhar Babu, G. Vivek, and A. Laxman Kumar, along with various legislators and senior officials, Reddy inspected three significant projects—Sriramsagar, Kaddam, and Yellampally—which were experiencing their first considerable inflows of the season on Saturday.
Post-inspection, he noted the activation of five pumps at Nandi Medaram pump house, utilizing gravity-fed water from the Yellampally reservoir to fill the Mid Manair through the Flood Flow Canal. “Our goal is to optimize every drop of Godavari water,” remarked Mr. Reddy. He stressed the importance of monitoring inflows, storage levels, and pumping operations, insisting on hourly oversight to avert any wastage.
Clarification on Water Sources
The Minister categorically dismissed accusations suggesting that water pumped from Yellampally was sourced from the Kaleshwaram project. He clarified that the Sripada Yellampally project was initiated during the Congress regime as part of the Pranahita Chevella project. According to him, the water currently flowing into Yellampally is from the natural flow of the Godavari River and is unrelated to the three Kaleshwaram barrages, specifically Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla.
Reddy highlighted several noteworthy projects, including SRSP (foundation laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1963), Kaddam (1959), Nagarjunasagar, and Srisailam, all built during Congress rule, stating they continue to reliably serve the state. In contrast, he noted serious structural problems with the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages built between 2016 and 2019 under the previous BRS Government.
Commitment to Safety and Repairs
Addressing the management of these barrages, the Minister reiterated that keeping them under free-flow conditions had no political motivations. The government adheres strictly to the regulations set by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC), which prohibit water storage until thorough investigations and repairs are finalized.
A Central Technical Oversight Committee was formed on June 30 to oversee this process. The IIT Bombay and AFRY India are in charge of developing the rehabilitation design, expected to be completed within 2–3 months. Proposed improvement measures involve constructing a diaphragm wall and extending the stilling basin to enhance structural integrity.
Repairs are slated to commence once designs are finalized, with efforts focused on restoring the barrages ahead of the next monsoon season. Regarding the non-operation of Kannepalli pumps, Reddy explained that water sourced from there would require storage facilities in both Annaram and Sundilla, which are currently under structural investigation.
Response to Misinformation
In a pointed critique, the Minister accused the BRS of disseminating misinformation and trying to claim credit for the water sourced from the Congress-established Yellampally project. He argued that while the previous government invested ₹1.81 lakh crore in irrigation, it created minimal new ayacut. He further alleged that even the Kaleshwaram project has failed to provide stable irrigation for one lakh acres and mentioned that several significant projects, including Palamuru-Rangareddy, remain unfinished.
Published – August 02, 2026, 12:27 am IST
