Telangana aims to finish Devadula in a year, lift water with full pumping
Telangana plans to fast-track the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, aiming for completion within a year and to push maximum water lifting using all available pumping capacity. A review highlighted bottlenecks and funding provisions to accelerate land, forest, and rehabilitation steps.
Key takeaways
- Telangana intends to fast-track the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme and finish it within one year.
- The project aims to lift 38 tmc ft of Godavari water to irrigate about 6 lakh acres across numerous districts.
- Funding provisions include a ₹5,000 crore irrigation package, with ₹2,500 crore already released, and prompt funds upon land acquisition completion.
- The plan emphasizes maximizing pumping capacity and resolving land, R&R, and forest-related bottlenecks.
What Happened
During a review in Hyderabad, Telangana’s Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister announced a fast-track plan for the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme with a target of completing the project within one year. He said attention would be given to addressing obstacles that have delayed progress, and that funding would be released promptly once land acquisition procedures and awards are finalized. A key decision was to operate all available pumping facilities to their fullest capacity to convey Godavari water to the project’s command areas and reservoirs.
The review was attended by other ministers, several lawmakers, and officials, with discussions focusing on component-wise progress, bottlenecks, and practical solutions. The minister underscored that the project, initiated nearly two decades ago, has suffered from neglect and is considered important for irrigation in multiple districts.
Why It Matters
Officials plan a rapid timeline to ensure farmers begin receiving benefits sooner. The decision to maximize pumping capacity could affect the timing and volume of water delivery to irrigation command areas across several districts, potentially improving the pace of agricultural support if implemented as planned.
Background
The Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme is designed to lift water from the Godavari river to supply irrigation across districts including Hanumakonda, Warangal, Karimnagar, Jangaon, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Suryapet, Siddipet, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Mulugu, and Jayashankar Bhupalpally. The project has been discussed for nearly twenty years prior to the current review.
Key Facts
- Project reviewed in Hyderabad by Telangana ministers and officials on August 25, 2026.
- Goal: complete the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme within one year.
- Design purpose: lift about 38 tmc ft of Godavari water to irrigate about 6 lakh acres across multiple districts.
- Funding: a special irrigation package of ₹5,000 crore for projects under construction; about ₹2,500 crore had already been released.
- Policy action: maximize use of all available pumping facilities to convey water to command areas and reservoirs.
- Focus areas for overcoming delays: land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), and forest-related issues.
What Happens Next
Authorities said funds would be released promptly where land acquisition and award procedures are complete. The next steps involve addressing identified bottlenecks component by component, finalizing land and forest clearances, and operationalizing pumping facilities to achieve the targeted water conveyance.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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