Marellapadu lift irrigation scheme opened in Bhadradri Kothagudem

The Marellapadu lift irrigation scheme was inaugurated at Marellapadu village in Aswapuram mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Wednesday, with Godavari water released into Thummalacheruvu. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao commissioned the project, built at an estimated cost of ₹61 crore, by switching on the pumps at the Marellapadu pumphouse.

Speaking after the inauguration, Mr. Srinivas Reddy said about 4,300 acres in Aswapuram mandal would receive irrigation water in the first phase, and that coverage would be extended to nearly 23,000 acres in stages. The pumphouse is a component of the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP).

At a public meeting in Gondigudem village, the Revenue Minister said the government would speed up land acquisition and forest clearances for the long-pending Pulusubontha project so that it could be completed. He recalled that foundation stones for several irrigation projects in the erstwhile undivided Khammam district were laid during the tenure of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Mr. Srinivas Reddy alleged that the previous BRS government had spent thousands of crores of public money in the name of redesigning irrigation projects. He said the Congress government would expedite the completion of irrigation projects to provide assured irrigation to farmers.

Agriculture Minister Nageswara Rao said the decades-long wait of farmers in the Aswapuram area for Godavari water to reach Thummalacheruvu had ended with the commissioning of the Marellapadu scheme. He said the State government was committed to completing the SRLIP to expand irrigation coverage and strengthen irrigation facilities in the erstwhile combined Khammam district.

Mahabubabad MP P. Balram Naik, Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu and others also spoke at the event.