Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Uttam Orders Speedy Disbursal of Rs 813 Crore Irrigation Funds
The government has money to compensate farmers whose land is needed for irrigation projects.
About Rs 813 crore is still waiting in district government accounts instead of reaching farmers.
Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy told officials to speed up the paperwork and payments.
He said money should be returned if it cannot be paid for a genuine reason.
Officials must follow the law and pay interest when compensation is delayed after an award.
They were also told to treat farmers fairly and consider market values during negotiations.
Court and ownership disputes will be collected for focused legal action.
The government says unfinished land acquisition is stopping some irrigation projects from delivering their full benefits.
About Rs 813 crore released for land acquisition and rehabilitation remains pending in district-level accounts.
Since April 1, tokens worth Rs 3,101 crore were submitted and Rs 2,504 crore was released.
Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed Collectors to accelerate negotiations, awards and payments to affected farmers.
Officials were told to return unused funds, pay applicable statutory interest and compile court or title disputes for legal action.
Pending land acquisition is delaying benefits from projects including the Pendlipakala reservoir and the SLBC tunnel.
- Who
- Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed District Collectors and irrigation officials to act; other senior officials also participated.
- What
- Officials were ordered to disburse pending land-acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement compensation and resolve related delays.
- When
- The review took place on Monday, with officials reporting figures accumulated since April 1.
- Where
- The review was held by video conference from Hyderabad and covered districts including Nalgonda, Yadadri-Bhongir, Narayanpet, Siddipet, Vikarabad, Jagtial and Hanumakonda.
- Why
- To ensure released funds reach affected farmers and to prevent unfinished land acquisition from delaying irrigation projects.
- Pending compensation
- About Rs 813 crore remains pending at the district level.
- Pending funds
- About Rs 502 crore is with Land Acquisition Officers and Rs 311 crore with Collectors.
- Tokens submitted
- Tokens worth approximately Rs 3,101 crore have been submitted since April 1.
- Funds released
- Around Rs 2,504 crore has been released for land acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement.
- Planned allocation
- Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy committed Rs 6,000 crore during 2026 for land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, and forest-related irrigation requirements.
- Payment rule
- Tokens should be raised only after awards are passed and cases are ready for payment.
- Priority project
- The Pendlipakala balancing reservoir was described as important to realizing benefits from the SLBC tunnel.
