Hanamkonda (Telangana), May 3 (UNI) Telangana Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the Congress government will complete the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme (Project) within two years, ensuring irrigation for 6 lakh acres in the combined Warangal and Bhongir districts.

He said Rs 3,312 crore is needed to finish the project, which aims to benefit nine drought-prone districts.

Accompanied by Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and local MLAs, Uttam Kumar Reddy inspected works at the Devadula tunnel and Devannapet pump house. Officials reported that Pump-02 is operational, Pump-01 will be commissioned by May 31, and Pump-03 by July 31. Steel pipe insertion to fix tunnel leakages is underway and will be completed by month-end.

At Rajavaram, the minister reviewed the EM-1 tunnel, where 4.3 MW pumps are lifting water to Ghanpur tank, with SCADA and canal works progressing. Phase-II works worth Rs 148.76 crore are underway to upgrade the Ghanpur Main Canal.

He also inspected desiltation and flood-prevention efforts at Bhadrakali tank. Of the planned 11.5 lakh cubic metres of silt removal, 2.7 lakh cum has been cleared, with Rs 16.11 crore sanctioned for transport. A Rs 158 crore flood-prevention project is in progress.

In a review at the Hanamkonda Collectorate, the minister said Telangana set a record in Rabi paddy procurement—70.13 lakh MT planned, 28.58 lakh MT already collected from over 3.3 lakh farmers, with Rs 3,163 crore credited so far.

Defending free distribution of fine rice (sanna biyyam) to the poor, he called it a “dignified reform”. He added that plans are in place to stabilise 6 lakh acres of new ayacut annually and begin desilting all silted reservoirs, including Sriramsagar.

UNI VV ARN