HYDERABAD: Telangana irrigation minister T Harish Rao has directed officials to release water to one lakh acres of agricultural land under the Yellampalli barrage (Sripada sagar project) on Godavari river in Karimnagar district by next year.
Though the barrage was completed and water was available, farmers were not getting water due to delay in acquisition of 120 acres of land.
Following representation from district MLAs, Harish Rao conducted a review meeting on the Yellampalli project here on Saturday. Joint collectors of Adilabad and Karimnagar districts, and relief & rehabilitation officers were invited to the meeting.
Harish Rao asked the officials to give Rs 120 crore to acquire 120 acres of land which will clear the hurdle in providing water to farmers.
The proposed ayacut under phase-1 of Yellampalli is 2.2 lakh acres. The minister directed the officials to see that at least one lakh acres are supplied irrigation water by next Kharif.
He wanted release of irrigation water first to around 20,000 acres in the Manthani Assembly constituency by the end of December.
Rao also asked the officials to solve the power problems with regard to the Kadem Narayana Reddy project. Due to lack of power, officials were unable to supply water under the Kadem project.
Harish Rao wanted the officials to give power and supply water to 30,000 acres by March.