Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said irrigation had been accorded the highest priority by the State Government and assured that all administrative, financial and legal hurdles would be resolved to ensure timely completion of these projects.

Addressing a review meeting at the Sathupalli tunnel point after inspecting the Sitarama Project along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy on Thursday, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Government was accelerating works at every level.

Highlighting a major achievement of the present government, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana had secured the final Central Water Commission clearance for utilisation of 67 TMC of Godavari water for the Sitarama Project after he assumed charge as Irrigation Minister. He said this approval would significantly strengthen the project’s implementation.

He assured that all three projects would be completed during the Congress gGovernment’s tenure and that adequate Godavari waters would be utilised for irrigation.

The Minister announced that land acquisition for irrigation projects would receive the highest priority. He directed District Collectors and Irrigation officials to ensure speedy completion of land acquisition by promptly processing compensation payments.

Referring to the history of irrigation projects in the region, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress government had earlier initiated the Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar projects, which could have achieved similar irrigation benefits at much lower cost if they had been completed on time.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy had an on-ground review of the work progress on the Sitarama and Sitamma sagar projects in Bhadradri Kothagudem district along with Deputy Chief Minister, Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister for Revenue, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.