Hyderabad: Low allocation for irrigation may put priority projects in jeopardy

HYDERABAD: The state government’s tall claims about expanding irrigation support, but without adequate budgetary allocations, may leave the state’s farmers in a fix. The proposed allocation of Rs 23,373 crore for the irrigation sector in the 2025-26 budget represents a mere 4.8% increase over Rs 22,285 crore allocated last year. Out of Rs 23,373 crore, about Rs 11,800 crore has been earmarked for critical project works, leaving a significant funding gap for completing major undertakings like the Sitaram Lift Irrigation Project. Over Rs 8,000 crore has already been spent on the project, envisaged to irrigate 3.28 lakh acres of new ayacuts and stabilise an additional 3.45 lakh acres of old ayacuts. Revised estimates show that an additional Rs 11,800 crore is required for its completion. Originally targeted for completion in August 2024, the deadline has now been extended to March 2026. Even as per the revised schedule, it will be a tough task to complete. The entire capital expenditure proposed for the sector will not be sufficient even for a single priority project.
This situation raises doubts among the people in the beneficiary districts about the feasibility of meeting this financial demand without derailing other important irrigation schemes. Moreover, the state government’s goal of achieving its stated target of bringing maximum agricultural land under cultivation with minimum expenditure appears to be increasingly uncertain. Amid this backdrop, the state government has committed to complete six irrigation projects on priority basis within a year. Projects like Nilavai Project (Mancherial), Primpri Lift Irrigation Scheme (Nirmal), Palemvagu Project (Jayashankar-Bhupalapally), Mathadivagu Project (Adilabad), SRSP Phase-2 (Warangal) and Sadarmat Project (Nirmal) were part of the priority list. Additionally, the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme is planned to be completed by March 2026. While these timelines reflect the state’s urgency, concerns remain about the ability to mobilise resources and strike a balance with the meagre financial allocation to complete these projects. With Rs 10,820 crore allocated as capital investment and Rs 11,500 crore for establishment cost in the 2024-25 budget, the government is unlikely to feel any impact in the sector. The government, which kept the KLIS barrage idle on the pretext of structural issues for nearly three crop seasons, may not be able to undertake rehabilitation works in the near future.