Telangana CM meets PM seeks help for irrigation projects invites for KIYG

     New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and sought his help in securing clearances and funds for pending irrigation projects and resolving inter-state water issues.

     The chief minister also invited the prime minister to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026, to be held in Hyderabad from December 11 to 22.

     State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, state Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya were present at the meeting at the prime minister's residence.

     Briefing reporters later, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the previous and present state governments have together spent about Rs 50,000 crore on the Palamuru-Rangareddy, Seethamma Sagar and Dindi projects, but the work has been slow for years, partly because of a Supreme Court stay.

     The apex court has since ruled that applications can be accepted and environmental impact assessments conducted, but the Union Environment Ministry has taken months to process them, he said.

     The state has asked the prime minister to expedite clearances for the three projects and take a special initiative for stalled irrigation projects across the country, he added.

     CM Reddy asked the prime minister to persuade Maharashtra to agree to a full reservoir level of 152 metres for the Tummidihetti project on the Pranhita river, according to the minister. An earlier agreement had fixed it at 148 metres.

     Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana is ready to pay compensation for additional submergence, as determined by the Centre or Maharashtra. He said he and the Telangana chief minister had earlier met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai.

     The state also sought an NOC from Chhattisgarh for the Sammakka-Saralamma project. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the barrage has been completed and hydrological clearances obtained, but the NOC is needed to use it to full capacity.

     He said the state has obtained a submergence report from IIT Kharagpur, as requested by Chhattisgarh, and deposited funds for an additional detailed project report (DPR). Reddy said the state has paid Rs 9.88 crore for a survey of the land and villages that would be submerged and is willing to pay compensation.

     The state has also asked that the DPR be evaluated under the rules in force at the time of its submission, as the Technical Advisory Committee's guidelines were revised later, the minister said.

     Uttam Kumar Reddy will meet the Central Water Commission chairman on November 16 and accompany the chief minister to Chhattisgarh on November 17 to discuss the NOC with the state's chief minister.

     On funding, the state sought an additional Rs 5,000 crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme to complete projects that are 70 to 90 per cent complete.

     Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Centre has announced Rs 2 lakh crore in 50-year interest-free loans nationwide, of which Telangana has received Rs 1,457 crore so far. The state can use the new funds by March 31, 2027, he said.

     Proposals seeking Rs 5,856 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for 2027-28 have been sent to the Jal Shakti Ministry, he said.

     These include Rs 5,183 crore for the Sitamma Sagar-Sitarama lift irrigation scheme, Rs 392 crore for Modikunta Vagu, Rs 178 crore for Chinna Kaleshwaram and Rs 103 crore for the Chanaka-Korata barrage.

     Citing the El Nino-induced rainfall deficit and falling groundwater levels in several districts, the state also sought a special central grant of Rs 5,000 crore for groundwater recharge and conservation, and submitted a Central Ground Water Board report of September 2026.

     Uttam Kumar Reddy said reservoirs hold enough water for drinking needs until the next monsoon and farmers are being urged not to grow paddy in the Yasangi (rabi) season. He also said experts have concluded that water cannot be lifted from the Medigadda barrage under current conditions.

     CM Reddy invited the prime minister to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Khelo India Youth Games, to be held in Telangana from December 11 to 22.

     Mandaviya and Reddy later unveiled the logo and mascot of the eighth edition of the Games at an event in Delhi.

     Srihari said the prime minister responded positively to the invitation.

    He said the state has earmarked Rs 203.13 crore for the Games, besides Rs 21 crore from the Centre, part of which will be used to develop permanent infrastructure at stadiums.

     The Games will have 27 disciplines, including the traditional Telangana sport Karrasamu, and more than 7,000 athletes and about 1,200 coaches and support staff will participate, he said. Venues include Hyderabad, Hanumakonda, Karimnagar, Khammam, Nizamabad and Mahabubnagar.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)