Devadula Lift Irrigation project cost revised to ₹18,500 Cr; to irrigate 5.57L acres across 9 districts

Hyderabad: Telangana government requires additional ₹4,331.51 crore to cover contractor payments, complete encasement works, and finalize land acquisition for the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation project (JCRDLIS).

Irrigation and Food Supplies Minister Captain Uttam Kumar Reddy said the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation project would be the lifeline for upland, drought-prone regions. He said the project is important for the drought-prone areas and will be completed at the earliest. Uttam Kumar Reddy reviews different irrigation projects.

Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme

Captain Uttam Kumar Reddy Uttam Kumar Reddy visited the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme (JCRDLIS) and also inspected the Sammakka Sarakka Barrage and the off-take point in Mulugu district.

Project Scope: The JCRDLIS is designed to irrigate 5.57 lakh acres across nine districts: Hanamkonda, Warangal, Karimnagar, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Jangaon, Yadadri, Suryapet, and Siddipet.

Key Metrics: The scheme involves a total lift of 469 meters and aims to utilize 38.16 TMC of water annually over 170 pumping days.

Status and Funding: The project is being executed in three phases. The revised cost is ₹18,500 crore, with ₹14,168.49 crore already spent. An additional ₹4,331.51 crore is urgently needed to cover contractor payments, complete encasement works, and finalize land acquisition.

Expected Benefits: Once completed, the project is expected to stabilize existing irrigation areas, provide drinking water, boost crop yields, and reduce migration from water-scarce regions.

Jawahar Lift Irrigation Scheme (Jawahar LIS)

Project Details: This ₹630.30-crore project is being hailed as a "game changer" for the Madhira region. It is scheduled for completion within one year.

Irrigation Target: The scheme aims to irrigate 33,025 acres across 35 villages in the Madhira and Errupalem mandals. Specifically, this includes:

Nidhanapuram major: 13,000 acres

Jamalapuram major: 10,000 acres

Mailavaram major: 5,000 acres

Mandal-wise: 13,219 acres in Madhira mandal and 19,800 acres in Errupalem mandal.

Project Rationale: Minister Reddy stated that the scheme aligns with the state's policy of delivering maximum water at a minimal cost. Uttam Kumar Reddy credited Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka for his crucial role in fast-tracking the project's sanction and clearances.

Broader Water Policy and Political Context

Minister Reddy also addressed the state's broader water and fiscal policies.

Krishna River Water Dispute: He reiterated Telangana's push for a 71% share of Krishna river waters, accusing the previous BRS government of settling for an unjust 34%.

State Finances: The Minister acknowledged the state's financial challenges, including a ₹7-lakh-crore debt inherited from the previous administration.