اردو 
Uttam orders desiltation of water sources State wide Irrigation Minister Chairs series of Emergency Reviews Insists on farmer-friendly silt utilization Wants optimum Water Use with adequate reserves maintained for drinking water CEs asked to be available at their headquarters
Hyderabad, April 5, 2026
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed senior officials to take urgent measures to ensure that Rabi crops in last stage are extended the crucial wetting.
In a series of high-level emergency review meetings held today, the Minister emphasized optimum utilization of available water in all major and medium irrigation projects while launching a comprehensive drive for desiltation and desedimentation of tanks and reservoirs.
Strict Directives on Water Management and Crop Protection
Minister made it clear that the Chief Engineers will be directly responsible for using whatever water is available in the most optimum manner. He laid down two clear priorities- ensure no standing crop dries up, and protect remaining water reserves for drinking water needs.
He urged all officers to exercise their initiative and take on-ground decisions promptly.
Under the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal, standing crops in its 6.30 lack acre ayacut were extended irrigation support so far in the Rabi season. Much of the harvest operations are over. Where ever crops are in need of wetting, it should be provided without fail.
The Minister ordered the officials to fill all the tanks to meet the drinking water needs before the canals are closed for the season.
He directed the officials to complete the repairs on the Jurala project on war footing. The project storage stands at
1.66 TMC, with an estimated 0.5 TMC from Narayanpur regenerated water expected to add to the project level. A potential 0.5 TMC shortfall was likely if flows do not arrive in time, said officials. One TMC of water was arranged from Karnataka last year.
The Minister directed officials to finalize the Jurala bridge location. Consensus emerged at the meeting in favour of a bridge-cum-small barrage with some storage capacity.
Major Thrust on Desiltation and Desedimentation
Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly insisted that all irrigation sources should be opened up for desiltation. He directed officials to prepare proposals with preliminary feasibility data immediately for tanks and projects. Wherever public access is possible, he wanted the silt removed during desilting to be made available to farmers free for use as natural fertilizer to enrich their soils in their lands. Where public access may not be feasible, he instructed officials to submit detailed proposals within two days for undertaking desilting works departmentally.
He reiterated that desilting must be done systematically and not in a haphazard manner to restore lost storage capacity in reservoirs, citing national surveys showing 30–40% siltation in many projects.
Insisting on continued operation of the
major pump houses, the minister said frequent switching and stoppage of the pumps may cause damage to pumps.
The minister discussed the progress in the investigations and studies entrusted to CWPRS for the rehabilitation of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The reviews were attended by the Secretary (Irrigation), E. Sridhar, Tunnel engineering expert, Col Parikshit Mehra (Secretary Irrigation on Deputation to state government), Irrigation Advisor to government, Adityanath Das, Engineer in Chief (general), Ramesh Babu and chief engineers of different projects. (EOM)
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed senior officials to take urgent measures to ensure that Rabi crops in last stage are extended the crucial wetting.
In a series of high-level emergency review meetings held today, the Minister emphasized optimum utilization of available water in all major and medium irrigation projects while launching a comprehensive drive for desiltation and desedimentation of tanks and reservoirs.
Strict Directives on Water Management and Crop Protection
Minister made it clear that the Chief Engineers will be directly responsible for using whatever water is available in the most optimum manner. He laid down two clear priorities- ensure no standing crop dries up, and protect remaining water reserves for drinking water needs.
He urged all officers to exercise their initiative and take on-ground decisions promptly.
Under the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal, standing crops in its 6.30 lack acre ayacut were extended irrigation support so far in the Rabi season. Much of the harvest operations are over. Where ever crops are in need of wetting, it should be provided without fail.
The Minister ordered the officials to fill all the tanks to meet the drinking water needs before the canals are closed for the season.
He directed the officials to complete the repairs on the Jurala project on war footing. The project storage stands at
1.66 TMC, with an estimated 0.5 TMC from Narayanpur regenerated water expected to add to the project level. A potential 0.5 TMC shortfall was likely if flows do not arrive in time, said officials. One TMC of water was arranged from Karnataka last year.
The Minister directed officials to finalize the Jurala bridge location. Consensus emerged at the meeting in favour of a bridge-cum-small barrage with some storage capacity.
Major Thrust on Desiltation and Desedimentation
Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly insisted that all irrigation sources should be opened up for desiltation. He directed officials to prepare proposals with preliminary feasibility data immediately for tanks and projects. Wherever public access is possible, he wanted the silt removed during desilting to be made available to farmers free for use as natural fertilizer to enrich their soils in their lands. Where public access may not be feasible, he instructed officials to submit detailed proposals within two days for undertaking desilting works departmentally.
He reiterated that desilting must be done systematically and not in a haphazard manner to restore lost storage capacity in reservoirs, citing national surveys showing 30–40% siltation in many projects.
Insisting on continued operation of the
major pump houses, the minister said frequent switching and stoppage of the pumps may cause damage to pumps.
The minister discussed the progress in the investigations and studies entrusted to CWPRS for the rehabilitation of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The reviews were attended by the Secretary (Irrigation), E. Sridhar, Tunnel engineering expert, Col Parikshit Mehra (Secretary Irrigation on Deputation to state government), Irrigation Advisor to government, Adityanath Das, Engineer in Chief (general), Ramesh Babu and chief engineers of different projects. (EOM)
