Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday, 5 June 2026, announced a firm action plan to complete all pending Krishna river irrigation projects in the erstwhile Palamuru (Mahabubnagar) district, targeting water supply to 26 lakh acres of farmland. The Chief Minister, who conducted a two-day field inspection of the ongoing projects, addressed a public meeting titled 'Praja Palana – Pragathi Pranalika' (People's Governance – Progress Plan) at Jadcherla to share the outcomes with residents.

Context

Posting in Telugu on X, Revanth Reddy described the moment as one that could 'change the fate of the erstwhile Palamuru district, which has been the address of drought for decades.' He stated that as a 'son of Palamuru,' he has taken a resolve to make the region agriculturally prosperous. The Chief Minister personally visited every irrigation project under construction on the Krishna river across the combined Palamuru district over two days before addressing the Jadcherla gathering.

Policy Backdrop

Mahabubnagar, historically part of the rain-shadow zone of southern Telangana, has faced chronic water scarcity, agrarian distress, and out-migration for generations. Since Telangana's formation in 2014, successive state governments have treated the expansion of irrigated acreage in the Krishna basin as a priority instrument for reducing the development gap between southern districts and the rest of the state. The current Congress administration, which assumed office in December 2023, has continued this policy emphasis while sharpening focus on time-bound project completion, land acquisition, and dedicated funding channels.

Revanth Reddy directed officials to complete pending works and land acquisition on a 'war footing,' in coordination with local elected representatives. He also stated that 'necessary funds will be provided through a green channel,' signalling a fast-track financial clearance mechanism to unblock stalled works.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the proposed project completions are farming communities across the villages of the erstwhile Palamuru district — comprising present-day Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Jogulamba Gadwal, Narayanpet, and Nagar Kurnool districts. Completing the Krishna-fed lift irrigation and canal schemes would directly reduce dependence on erratic monsoon rainfall for 26 lakh acres of agricultural land. Local elected representatives, including ZPTCs, MLAs, and MPs from the region, have been tasked with supporting land acquisition efforts to prevent delays.

At the Jadcherla public meeting, the Chief Minister drew on personal history, recalling that a sapling planted by local people when he served as a ZPTC member in Midjil mandal 20 years ago has now grown into a large tree providing shade — using the metaphor to illustrate his long-standing commitment to the region's development.

What's Next

The immediate test will be the pace of land acquisition and the release of funds through the announced green-channel mechanism for the Krishna valley projects. Progress will be closely watched ahead of the next Telangana Legislative Assembly session, where budgetary allocations for irrigation in southern districts are expected to come under scrutiny. Any further review meetings or revised project timelines announced by the state government will signal whether the war-footing directive translates into measurable on-ground acceleration for Palamuru's farmers.