Uttam: Fast-track land acquisition, relief and rehabilitation for pending Telangana irrigation projects

Hyderabad: Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials to fast-track land acquisition and Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) for all pending and ongoing irrigation projects in Telangana, urging them to cut through delays and move decisively.

At a review meeting held Saturday at the Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat, the minister emphasised the need for district-level coordination, asking officials to coordinate with district collectors to urgently address legal, administrative and logistical issues holding up progress. “We can’t afford to lose more time,” he told officials, pressing for smoother execution at every level.

‘Land acquisition delays will affect long-term agricultural plans’

Uttam Kumar Reddy assessed project statuses across districts, identifying key stumbling blocks. He stressed that irrigation isn’t just a structural need; it’s essential to Telangana’s farm economy and long-term food security.

“These projects must be treated as administrative priorities,” he said.

Chronic land acquisition delays, he noted, have become a major drag on timelines and cost estimates. To fix that, he called for proactive engagement with affected landowners and communities. Compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement, he insisted, must be handled transparently and sensitively. “If we delay, we risk public backlash and legal trouble that could stall everything,” he warned.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also told officials to stay in constant communication with implementing agencies and contractors, stressing the need to avoid missteps and breakdowns in coordination. “No lapses, administrative or procedural, should slow this down. Delays only raise costs and spark discontent,” he said.

Priority to Palamuru-Rangareddy and Sitarama Sagar

Two projects received particular attention: Palamuru-Rangareddy and Sitarama Sagar, both critical to irrigating large, drought-hit regions. Uttam Kumar Reddy asked for priority to be given to every stage of these works, from canal lining to tunnel boring, with no interruptions.

With monsoon inflows rising across reservoirs, the minister reviewed operational readiness of irrigation structures, instructing officials to stay alert, monitor levels closely, and activate emergency protocols as needed.

Army officers to monitor tunnel construction

He emphasised the critical role of tunnel works in several key projects, especially in regions where the terrain makes open canals impractical. To boost the department’s technical capabilities, the Telangana Irrigation Department is bringing in two high-profile Army officers with deep experience in tunnel construction.

General Harpal Singh, the former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, will come on board as an honorary advisor. Meanwhile, Colonel Parikshit Mehra, a globally recognised expert in tunnel engineering, will be joining the department full-time. Both officers played key roles in the construction of the Rohtang and Zojila tunnels - two of India’s most challenging infrastructure undertakings.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also turned his attention to WALMTARI—the Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute at Rajendranagar. He called for its strengthening, describing it as a crucial centre for training and research in irrigation management. He also instructed that the institute’s land be surveyed, and any encroachments cleared out promptly. Describing it as a key asset for irrigation planning and research, he ordered a detailed land survey of the premises and the removal of any illegal encroachments.