Hyderabad; Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday announced that nine pumping units of Devadula would be operating round the clock from tonight to maximise water lifting from the Godavari.Responding to criticism by BRS leader T. Harish Rao during an informal interaction with media persons at his secretariat chambers, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the state govt was focused on ensuring water security and protecting farmers, not engaging in political rhetoric.“As promised during our recent review of the Devadula project, nine pumping units will be operating at full capacity from tonight (Tuesday night). They will function round the clock to maximise lifting from the Godavari and fill the 22 reservoirs serving nine districts,” he said.He said engineers had been directed to operate the pumping system at maximum capacity to ensure that all reservoirs under the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme were filled as far as possible to tackle the emerging water scarcity caused by deficient rainfall.The minister said the govt‘s immediate priority was to secure water supplies for people rather than indulge in political exchanges. “Every operational decision is being guided by technical requirements and the need to safeguard water availability during the current monsoon uncertainty. Our responsibility is to protect farmers and ensure drinking water security,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.He alleged that Harish Rao was attempting to divert public attention from the failures of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. He said those who had taken crucial engineering and administrative decisions that ultimately led to the structural crisis at Medigadda should first answer for their own actions before commenting on Devadula.“If Harish Rao wants to debate irrigation, he must first explain the decisions taken when he served as irrigation minister during BRS regime. Instead of spreading misinformation about Devadula, he should answer why the original foundation design at Medigadda was changed during the BRS regime and who authorised those decisions,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to Devadula, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the project was being implemented on mission mode. He said pending land acquisition, statutory clearances and construction works were being expedited so that the project could be completed by December 2027.ends/
