Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Tenant Farmers Oppose Private Maintenance of Irrigation Schemes
The Andhra Pradesh government wants private companies to maintain 789 irrigation projects for 10 years.
These projects help deliver water to farms.
Tenant farmer leaders oppose the plan and say the government should remain responsible.
They worry that private companies could receive large amounts of public money.
They also say many projects were already damaged because repairs were neglected.
Of the original 1,023 projects, 623 were damaged and 234 stopped working completely.
The farmers want the government to repair the broken systems.
They are asking for a discussion in the Assembly and meetings with farmers before the plan moves forward.
The Andhra Pradesh government proposed outsourcing maintenance of 789 lift irrigation schemes for 10 years.
Tenant farmer leaders called the proposal anti-farmer and urged its withdrawal.
The schemes currently supply irrigation water to 7.49 lakh acres.
They said years of neglect damaged 623 schemes and left 234 completely non-functional.
The leaders demanded government-funded restoration, Assembly debate, and consultations with farmers before any decision.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh Koulu Rythu Sangham leaders A. Katamaiah and P. Jamalaiah opposed the proposal.
- What
- They demanded withdrawal of the plan to transfer maintenance of 789 lift irrigation schemes to private agencies for 10 years.
- When
- The demand was issued in a press release on Tuesday during the ongoing Assembly session.
- Where
- The press release was issued in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- The leaders said privatisation could weaken government responsibility and divert public funds, while damaged schemes require restoration under government supervision.
Tenant Farmers’ Association
Proposed Government Approach
Who should maintain the schemes?
Tenant Farmers’ Association
The government should directly maintain and restore the irrigation schemes rather than hand them to private agencies.
Proposed Government Approach
The government has proposed assigning maintenance of 789 schemes to private agencies for 10 years.
Use of public funds
Tenant Farmers’ Association
The association warned that outsourcing could allow a major diversion of public money to private firms.
Proposed Government Approach
The proposal is linked to estimated maintenance costs of Rs 4,911 per acre, with power and staff expenses adding further costs.
Decision-making process
Tenant Farmers’ Association
The leaders want a detailed Assembly discussion and consultations with farmers and tenant farmer associations before any decision.
Proposed Government Approach
The article does not state the government's response to these demands.
- Schemes proposed for outsourcing
- 789 lift irrigation schemes
- Current irrigation coverage
- 7.49 lakh acres
- One-crop area
- About five lakh acres
- Two-crop area
- 2.49 lakh acres
- Estimated annual maintenance cost
- Rs 4,911 per acre, excluding additional power and salary costs
- Original scheme count
- 1,023 schemes serving 8.42 lakh acres
- Reported damage
- 623 schemes damaged and 234 completely non-functional