KCR Asks Officials To Speed Up Irrigation Projects

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday directed the officials concerned to speed up the construction of the State's irrigation projects on a war-footing and ensure flow of water into the parched agricultural fields in the State.

As there were no problems of funds and land acquisition, the officials should relentlessly work and achieve their first target of irrigating parched farmlands, especially in the Mahabubnagar district, and wipe the tears of the farming community, he instructed them.

Holding a review meeting in his camp office, the Chief Minister asked the officials to chalk out a plan of action to execute the project works expeditiously in the wake of the completion of the tender process for lift irrigation projects.

KCR pointed out that the State government was allocating Rs 25,000 crores every year to the irrigation sector to complete the projects early. Besides, with the initiative taken by irrigation minister T Harish Rao, the Union government had sanctioned a further Rs 3,000 crores for the purpose, he said.

The Chief Minister added that there need not be any doubts over the funds for the projects as the government had released Rs 2,000 crores for clearing the bills of the contractors. He instructed the officials to pay the bills for the works done promptly.

KCR also said the government was taking steps to recruit staff, and purchase equipment and vehicles for the new irrigation projects.

Stating that 60% of the land acquisition process for the Palamur lift irrigation project was complete, the Chief Minister asked Mahabubnagar district Collector Sridevi to expedite the process of the remaining land acquisition and also directed Finance Secretary Ramakrishna Rao to release the required funds immediately.

Stating that 15 lakh acres in the Mahabubnagar district would come under irrigation upon completion of the ongoing projects, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that the migration of Palamur labourers would then come to a halt, and that those who had already left the district in search of greener pastures would also return home happily.

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, Industries Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Advisor to Govt Papa Rao, MLA Vemula Prashant Reddy, Principal Secretary of Irrigation S K Joshi and others were present.