Telangana proposes six-month water restoration programme for 2027
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy outlined a plan to connect water infrastructure with rural employment across the state.
Telangana is planning a six-month water restoration programme from January to June 2027, according to a report by Urban Acres. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the initiative during a high-level review meeting at the state secretariat.
The programme aims to restore existing water infrastructure, improve local water retention, and generate employment through the rural employment guarantee framework. The minister stated that the panchayat raj and rural development departments will jointly create a comprehensive action plan.
The initiative seeks to engage village residents, specifically those working in agriculture, to mitigate the impacts of El Niño conditions. The proposed works include desilting minor irrigation tanks, repairing canals, and maintaining village ponds and feeder channels.
Minister Reddy said a list of 355 categories of work has been prepared. These tasks involve repairing sluice gates, clearing vegetation, and constructing check dams across small rivers and streams to assist groundwater recharge.
The project will largely use the existing 60:40 funding arrangement of the employment guarantee framework, with the state government providing any necessary additional funds. The total budget and specific district-wise allocations have not been specified.
Officials have been directed to study groundwater-recharge methods used in Maharashtra and Rajasthan to identify practices for replication. A meeting with district-level groundwater officials will be held to review future requirements.