Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project Denied National Status, But Fund Support Assured

The Central Government of India has declined to grant national status to the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana. However, the Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekawat, has assured financial support for the project through alternative schemes.

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Meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister

Telangana's Irrigation Minister, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, met with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat to discuss the project. They requested the minister to consider granting national status to the Palameru-Rangareddy Irrigation project and provide necessary funding.

National Project Status Discontinued

In response, the Union Minister clarified that the practice of granting national project status has been discontinued since 2014. He explained that no projects have received national status in the past 10 years. However, considering the representation from Telangana, the minister expressed his willingness to explore alternative schemes and allocate funds for the project.

Project Overview and Significance

The Palameru Rangareddy Irrigation project aims to address the severe drought conditions in six districts of Telangana. It seeks to irrigate approximately 12 lakh acres of land, benefiting the agricultural sector and alleviating water scarcity. The state government has already invested 40% of the project cost.

Chief Minister's Involvement

The project holds particular importance for the Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, as he had promised to bring irrigation water to his constituency in Kodangal during the recent assembly elections. The Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift irrigation scheme, sanctioned in 2014, was intended to provide water to Kodangal but faced challenges in obtaining water from Jurala. Consequently, the project was incorporated into the proposed Palamuru-Rangareddy irrigation project.

Water Utilization and Kaleshwaram Project

During the meeting, Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy also sought early approval from the Central Water Commission to utilize 90 thousand cubic feet of water for the project. However, there was no discussion regarding the Kaleshwaram irrigation project during the meeting.

Restructuring of Telangana State Public Service Commission

In a separate development, a delegation led by the Chief Minister will meet with the UPSC chief on Friday to discuss the restructuring of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). The aim is to align the TSPSC with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to ensure a transparent recruitment process and address the issue of unemployment in Telangana.

While the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project may not have received national status, the Telangana government remains committed to securing funding through alternative schemes. The project holds significant importance for the state, particularly for the Chief Minister, and efforts are being made to ensure its successful implementation.