The Telangana government has approved a 48 percent increase in the cost estimate of the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Scheme (SRLIS), raising it from Rs 13,058 crore to Rs 19,325 crore, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao announced.

This revision aims to create irrigation potential for 3.29 lakh acres of new ayacut and stabilize 3.45 lakh acres of existing ayacut across 31 mandals in 11 constituencies of Khammam, Bhadradri-Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad districts. The 104-km main canal is complete, and the revised budget will facilitate modernisation of distributaries and field channels. 60 km of the Sattupalli Trunk (tunnel) and Palair link canal is finished, with the remaining 125 km set to be completed in a year.

Tenders have been invited for eight distributaries, and land acquisition and Grama Sabhas are underway. The government plans to release 1,600 cusecs by June-end next year to stabilise 1.21 lakh acres under the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal and fill minor irrigation tanks. The revised cost also enables the completion of the Yathalakunta tunnel by December and the Julurupadu tunnel by end-2026, ensuring water supply to over 120 minor irrigation tanks and further boosting regional irrigation infrastructure.