Shun kodangal Scheme: a call for reevaluation by marri

Marri Shashidhar Reddy, a member of the BJP national council, has called on the state government to reconsider the Kodangal lift irrigation scheme, which aims to irrigate 100,000 acres and is estimated to cost approximately ₹24,350 crore. Reddy raised concerns regarding potential additional expenses, such as land acquisition and ongoing energy costs, which he believes could substantially elevate the overall financial burden.

Reddy proposed that the government might instead consider the ‘four waters’ approach advocated by the late irrigation expert T. Hanumanth Rao. This alternative could yield comparable irrigation outcomes at a significantly reduced cost of ₹150 crore.

During a round table discussion organized by the Dr. M Channa Reddy Memorial Trust, where he serves as secretary, Reddy underscored the long-term effectiveness of the ‘four waters’ strategy in Gotigaripalli village, located in Kohir Mandal, which has facilitated three crop cycles annually for over two decades. He also cited its successful application in Rajasthan, where it has transformed semi-arid regions into fertile agricultural lands.

Reddy urged the state irrigation minister and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to visit both Gotigaripalli and Rajasthan to observe the advantages of this program firsthand.

In attendance were MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Marri Shashidhar Reddy, MP Dr. K. Laxman, retired SE from Rajasthan Deepak Shrivatsava, and NRSC scientist Dr. P.V. Raju, who participated in the event in Hyderabad. Public policy expert Dr. Donthi Narasimha Reddy provided an in-depth presentation, highlighting how the ‘four waters’ concept has ensured sustainable water security for marginalized communities. He noted that the watershed management program in Gotigaripalli continues to deliver significant benefits more than twenty years after its initiation.