Hyderabad: With water levels in reservoirs remaining below the desired levels due to the impact of El Nino and other factors, the Congress govt has decided to maximise the utilisation of Godavari river waters. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed officials to undertake lift operations from the Yellampalli, Devadula and Sitarama projects to ensure maximum utilisation of the available water.At a review meeting on the irrigation department held at the CM’s camp office at the MCRHRD campus, Revanth said water was not being stored in the Sundilla, Annaram and Medigadda barrages in accordance with the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). He emphasised the need to strictly adhere to the NDSA recommendations.During the meeting, irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy informed the CM that lift operations were being carried out using nine pumps at the Devadula project.Revanth directed officials to focus on resolving even minor issues related to lift irrigation operations at the Devadula and Sitarama projects. The meeting also reviewed pending compensation payments to farmers in several villages whose land had been acquired for various irrigation projects.“Prepare an action plan to ensure the immediate disbursement of compensation to farmers. Irrigation and revenue officials should conduct field visits and prepare a factual report on villages prone to submergence, as well as pending compensation and rehabilitation issues. Compensation must be paid immediately to people in villages facing an imminent impact,” Revanth told officials.He said completing these tasks would pave the way for filling the Baswapur and Gouravelli projects with water. He also directed officials to conduct a comprehensive study on increasing the capacity of the Gattu and Gudemdoddi lift irrigation schemes and to appoint a consultant for the Gudemdoddi pump-storage project.
