Telangana ministers initiate trial run of Seetharama Project pump house

Bhadradri Kothagudem (Telangana) [India], August 11 : The ministers of Telangana initiated a trial run of the Seetharama Project pump houses on Sunday ahead of its grand inauguration.
Telangana Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy conducted a significant trial run of three crucial pump houses under the Seetharama Lift Irrigation Project, according to a press release.
Telangana's Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will be performing the launch of the Seetharama Project pump houses on the occasion of Independence Day. The trial run, held in Bhadradri Kothagudem district marked a key milestone ahead of the project's official inauguration by the Chief Minister.
The ministers first visited the Seetharama Sagar project at Poosukudem in Mulkalapalli mandal of Aswaraopet constituency, where they launched the second pump house trial run.
Further, the ministers proceeded and visited the Seetharama Sagar project at Poosukudem in Mulkalapalli mandal of Aswaraopet constituency, where they launched the second pump house trial run.
They then proceeded to Kamalapuram village, in Mulkalapalli mandal, to initiate the trial run of the third pump house.
The final leg of their tour was in Wyra, Khammam district, where they inspected the arrangements for the public meeting scheduled for August 15, which will be addressed by the Chief Minister during the project's inauguration.
Addressing a press conference, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated the Congress government's commitment to providing irrigation to every acre under the Seetharama Project by August 2026.
He announced that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy would not only inaugurate the project on August 15 but also launch the Rs 2 lakh loan waiver scheme for farmers.
The initiative is expected to offer substantial relief to the farming community and reinforce the government's support for agricultural development.
Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted that the Seetharama Project, which previous BRS governments left incomplete, is now on the brink of completion under the Congress administration. He emphasised the need to expedite construction works to ensure water reaches every acre, aligning with the government's commitment to agricultural development.
The Seetharama Lift Irrigation Project, fully approved by the Godavari River Management Board, will receive 67tmc of water from the Godavari River.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed that this allocation is crucial for ensuring water reaches every acre within the project's command area by the August 2026 deadline. The project also includes renaming the Enkoor Link Canal to the Rajiv Canal, which will be instrumental in stabilising irrigation across the region.
Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised the need to expedite the construction of distributary canals and critical infrastructure components, such as the Yatalakunta and Zloorupadu tunnels, which are vital for bringing Godavari water to the Palair region.
Minister Reddy also addressed challenges related to railway crossings at specific locations, urging officials to collaborate with railway authorities to prevent construction delays.
He highlighted the need for immediate land acquisition for packages 1 and 2, involving 3,000 acres, to meet the project's targets on time. He noted that the completion of these works would stabilise irrigation for 3.40 lakh acres and bring an additional 2.60 lakh acres under cultivation.
A key focus was on the immediate acquisition of the remaining 1,658 acres of land required for the project's Packages 1 and 2.
Uttam Kumar Reddy appealed for public cooperation, highlighting that the timely completion of these packages would stabilise irrigation for 3.40 lakh acres and bring an additional 2.60 lakh acres under cultivation. "The Seetharama Lift Irrigation Project is set to be a game-changer, bringing water to millions of acres and transforming Telangana's agrarian landscape," he said.
"The Seetharama Lift Irrigation Project is expected to bring a significant transformation to the agricultural landscape of Telangana. The project will provide a reliable source of water for irrigation on nearly 6 lakh acres, which will help increase agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region. The Congress government is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the project and is taking all necessary steps to achieve this goal," Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy criticised the previous administration for its inefficiency and wasteful spending, pointing out that the project's cost was inflated from Rs 2,400 crores to Rs 18,000 crores under the guise of redesigning.
In contrast, he praised the current Congress government's efforts to secure all necessary approvals and water allocations while keeping costs in check. He noted that the Congress government has ensured that the project will benefit a broader area and serve the long-standing needs of the farmers.
The ministers expressed confidence that the Seetharama Lift Irrigation Project would transform Telangana's agricultural landscape by providing a reliable water source, enhancing productivity, and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the region.
Uttam Kumar Reddy credited the Congress government for securing crucial approvals and allocations that had been neglected by the previous BRS regime. He assured that the project would be completed by August 2026, marking a new era of agricultural prosperity in Telangana.
The trial run event was attended by prominent officials, including Telangana State Irrigation Development Corporation Chairman Muvva Vijay Babu, Irrigation Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja, Bhadradri Kothagudem District Collector Jitesh V. Patel, Superintendent of Police Rohit Raju, and ITDA Project Officer Rahul.