CityLightBuzz: Huzurnagar, August 20, 2026: Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has urged farmers to exercise extreme caution while planning their crops amid the continuing rainfall deficit in the state.The Minister warned that if rainfall remains below expectations during September and October, the situation could become more challenging. He advised farmers not to base crop decisions solely on expectations of future rainfall, but instead to assess the water resources that are actually available to them. Uttam Kumar Reddy made the remarks while inspecting the ongoing works of the Mahatma Gandhi Muktyala Branch Canal Lift Irrigation Scheme in Suryapet district on Thursday. He reviewed the availability of irrigation water, progress of various projects and water storage levels in reservoirs along with senior irrigation officials.The Minister said the government is continuously monitoring rainfall, reservoir storage levels and inflows from upstream areas. Due to the rainfall deficit, major reservoirs, including Nagarjuna Sagar, are not receiving inflows at the expected levels.
He said decisions regarding irrigation water releases would have to be based on actual water availability and reliable inflows, rather than assumptions about future rainfall. At the same time, sufficient water must be preserved to meet drinking water requirements through the summer and until the next monsoon. Balance Between Irrigation and Drinking Water
Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed that irrigation and drinking water are equally important and that the government cannot put one requirement at risk to meet the other.
He said water release decisions would be taken after considering actual reservoir storage, dependable upstream inflows and scientific weather forecasts.
The Minister also noted that the El Niño phenomenon is not limited to Huzurnagar, Suryapet or Telangana, but is part of a wider global climate system that can influence weather patterns. He called for agricultural planning based on the water resources realistically available to farmers.
He advised farmers to assess whether they would have sufficient water until the end of the crop cycle before selecting crops.
53,000 Acres to Benefit from Muktyala Branch Canal Lift Scheme
The Minister said the prevailing drought-like conditions have increased the importance of the Mahatma Gandhi Muktyala Branch Canal Lift Irrigation Scheme, which is designed to provide an alternative irrigation source to areas dependent on Krishna river waters.The project is expected to provide irrigation to approximately 53,000 acres across Mattampally, Mellacheruvu and Chinthalapalem mandals in Suryapet district.Around 19,297 families are expected to benefit directly from the project, including approximately 5,080 tribal families and 3,540 Scheduled Caste families.The scheme has been designed to lift water from the backwaters of the Pulichintala Project, providing an alternative source of irrigation when adequate water is not available in Nagarjuna Sagar.
The Minister said such alternative water sources could become an important safeguard for farmers as climate and rainfall patterns become increasingly uncertain.Major Works Targeted for Completion by December
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that around 30 kilometres of the proposed 40-kilometre canal network have already been completed.
Two pumps and motors have reached the project site, while the remaining two sets are expected to arrive by the end of September.
He directed irrigation officials to accelerate the remaining works, including the pump house, main canal, gate regulator and delivery system, and complete the major works on a priority basis by December.The Minister also instructed power department officials to expedite work on the crucial 132 kV dedicated substation required for the project.He emphasised that irrigation water releases should not face even a single day of delay due to incomplete power infrastructure once the irrigation system becomes operational. He directed officials to complete the electrical infrastructure simultaneously with the project works.
Farmers Urged to Remain Vigilant
.The Minister said the current rainfall situation highlights two key responsibilities for the government: completing permanent irrigation infrastructure quickly and using existing water resources scientifically and economically.He assured farmers in areas with reliable water sources of government support, while urging them to plan cultivation based on actual available water rather than expectations of future rainfall.
He warned that if rainfall remains weak during September and October, pressure on water resources could increase further and urged farmers to remain cautious from now onwards. “Every drop of water represents a crop, a family and the drinking water needs of a village. Therefore, every decision must be taken responsibly,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Suryapet District Collector Tejas Nandlal Pawar, District SP K. Narasimha, and officials from the irrigation, revenue and power departments participated in the Minister’s inspection and review meeting.
