Uttam holds BRS responsible for Mahabubnagar water crisis
In Short
Read Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy's response to the Mahabubnagar water crisis, blaming El Nino and past BRS governance failures while detailing accelerated work on key lift irrigation projects and the SLBC tunnel.
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Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy
Hyderabad: The ongoing agitation staged by BRS leaders over the water crisis in erstwhile Mahabubnagar district is a ploy to divert public attention from their own past failures, stated Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy. Acknowledging that farmers face genuine hardships, the minister emphasized that the government fully recognizes their concerns. He explained that El Nino weakened the monsoon, causing delayed rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and reduced Krishna basin inflows. By September 15, 2026, major and medium irrigation projects held merely 120 TMC live storage against a total capacity of 361 TMC.
Uttam noted that despite inheriting key projects like Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, and Koilsagar, the previous BRS government failed over a decade to complete essential distributaries, land acquisition, and last-mile works, preventing full ayacut irrigation. Furthermore, decisions surrounding the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, originally sanctioned in 2013 to lift 70 TMC floodwater from Jurala and irrigate nearly 10 lakh acres across Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda, severely disrupted execution.
Reaffirming state commitment, Uttam stated that the present government has accelerated work on the Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, Koilsagar, and Palamuru-Rangareddy projects. Additionally, the administration remains dedicated to completing the SLBC tunnel by June 2028. This crucial initiative will create irrigation potential for nearly four lakh acres while supplying safe drinking water to hundreds of fluoride-affected rural habitations across the region.
