Devadula Phase-VI to be completed by Dec 2028 to bring Godavari water to Tungaturthi

Hyderabad, August 15: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Saturday that the government is committed to completing and operationalising Phase-VI of the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme by December 2028. The project aims to bring Godavari river water to the Tungaturthi constituency in Suryapet district.

Speaking after hoisting the national flag on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day at Suryapet, the Minister said the government is giving high priority to completing the remaining components of the Devadula project within the current term. He stated that bottlenecks are being removed so that the investments already made in the project result in assured irrigation benefits.

The operationalisation of Phase-VI is particularly significant for Tungaturthi, where agriculture has traditionally depended on rainfall and local water sources. The supply of Godavari water is expected to provide a more reliable irrigation source, stabilise the existing ayacut, and extend irrigation to currently underserved and unserved areas.

The benefits are likely to extend beyond Tungaturthi. The integration of Godavari water with Suryapet district's irrigation network would strengthen overall water security, reduce vulnerability during deficient rainfall years, and enable better management of available water resources. It would also complement irrigation benefits from the Krishna basin systems and local projects, the Minister added.

Mr. Reddy said Suryapet district currently has an ayacut of about 5.82 lakh acres. The government is pursuing both immediate water management measures and long-term infrastructure development to protect and strengthen the agricultural base.

Given the prevailing rainfall and reservoir storage position, the Minister stated that drinking water will receive first priority, while remaining available water will be used prudently. Water availability in Nagarjunasagar, SRSP Stage-II, Musi, and other systems is being reviewed continuously.

In addition to Devadula Phase-VI, the government is taking forward three major irrigation projects with a combined investment of about ₹2,392 crore, expected to provide irrigation facilities to nearly 77,000 acres. These include the ₹1,649-crore Mahatma Gandhi Muktyala Branch Canal Lift Irrigation Scheme for about 53,000 acres, the ₹292-crore Jawahar Jampadu Branch Canal for 10,000 acres, and the ₹451-crore Rajiv Gandhi Lift Irrigation Scheme for about 14,000 acres.

Land acquisition and other requirements for these projects are being expedited to accelerate execution, the Minister said. Lift irrigation schemes at Mothe, Redlagunta, and Rajiv Shantinagar R-9 are also being pursued. The government has sanctioned ₹396 crore for modernisation of the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal and its associated canal network, and ₹70 crore for modernisation of the Musi project canals.