Complete irrigation O&M works before Kharif: Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu has directed irrigation officials to complete all Operation and Maintenance (O&M) works before May 15, ahead of the upcoming Kharif season.

Addressing a video conference with officials, the minister emphasised the critical importance of maintenance, and said that even if thousands of crores are spent on building irrigation infrastructure, lack of proper upkeep would render those investments ineffective. “Without annual maintenance, irrigation assets will deteriorate, defeating the purpose of massive public spending,” he observed.

The minister criticised the previous government for what he termed serious neglect of irrigation maintenance, alleging that canals were not desilted and key components such as shutters, gates and control systems were left unrepaired. “There was not even basic greasing of mechanical systems. These lapses have now become a burden we must correct,” he said. Highlighting the current government’s efforts, Ramanaidu stated that while the previous regime had spent less than Rs 200 crore over five years on maintenance, the present government has already allocated and spent Rs 878 crore within the first two years to restore irrigation systems.

He instructed officials to take up O&M works on a war footing, ensuring that all critical repairs, desilting, and restoration of canals and reservoirs are completed with high quality standards before the agricultural season begins. The goal, he said, is to bring the entire irrigation network back to optimal operational condition in time to meet farmers’ needs. In a farmer-friendly initiative, the minister also announced that silt removed from tanks and canals will be supplied to farmers at a nominal cost of Rs 1 per cubic metre, enabling them to improve soil fertility while aiding desilting efforts.