Archive · 16 Aug 2026
No delay in Sitarama distributary works, directs Agriculture Minister Tummala
A very important person for farming in our state, the Agriculture Minister, went to see a big water project.
The project is called the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project.
It uses pumps to lift water from a river and send it to farms.
The river is called the Godavari, and right now it has lots of water.
The minister wants the small canals to be finished by next June.
Then almost three lakh farms can get water, which means about three hundred thousand farms.
The water should start flowing by the end of August.
The minister also said that farmers whose land is needed will get fair money for it.
He asked everyone to work together so the project is not delayed.
He also checked another water scheme that is behind schedule and wants it finished quickly.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao inspected the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project pump house at Busy Kothuru in Aswapuram mandal on Saturday.
He directed officials to complete distributary canal works by June next year to provide irrigation to nearly three lakh acres.
Officials were told to release water through the lift scheme by the end of August, citing adequate Godavari flows.
The minister said the project could benefit around 25,000 acres in Burgampadu mandal, especially during drought-like conditions caused by El Nino.
Tummala expressed dissatisfaction over delays at the Marellapadu Lift Irrigation Scheme and ordered faster land acquisition and construction.
- Who
- Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, accompanied by Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateswarlu, District Collector Ankit and Bhadrachalam Sub-Collector Mrinal Shreshta.
- What
- Directives to speed up land acquisition and complete distributary canal works of the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project so nearly three lakh acres receive irrigation by June next year.
- When
- During an inspection on Saturday; water release through the lift scheme is targeted by the end of August.
- Where
- The pump house at Busy Kothuru in Aswapuram mandal, Kothagudem.
- Why
- To fully operationalise the project and ensure irrigation water reaches farmers, especially during drought-like conditions caused by El Nino.
Project Priority
Landowner Holdouts
Land acquisition for canals
Project Priority
The government says construction works benefiting a large number of farmers should not be held up by delays involving a few landowners, and it is ready to pay fair compensation promptly.
Landowner Holdouts
Delays involving a few landowners in handing over acquired land have held up distributary canal works, prompting the minister to appeal for farmers' cooperation.
- Project
- Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project
- Irrigation target
- Nearly three lakh acres by June next year
- Water release target
- By end of August
- Minister
- Tummala Nageswara Rao, Agriculture Minister
- Chief Minister
- A Revanth Reddy (took special interest in land acquisition funds)
- Additional benefit
- Around 25,000 acres in Burgampadu mandal
- Other project inspected
- Marellapadu Lift Irrigation Scheme (delay concerns)
- Water source
- Godavari river flows