Fifteen spillway gates of the Taliperu reservoir in Charla mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district were opened on Tuesday following moderate inflows from the Taliperu river catchment areas along the inter-State border with Chhattisgarh.

For the first time in this monsoon season, the reservoir received an inflow of 9679 cusecs, prompting project officials to open 15 gates to regulate the inflows and release the excess water into the downstream of the river.

The water level in the reservoir stood at 73.65 metres late on Tuesday afternoon, just below  its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 74 metres.

Despite fresh inflows into the Taliperu reservoir, water levels in the Godavari and its other tributaries continued to remain low due to deficient rainfall in upstream areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday said that the State government was committed to maximising the utilisation of Godavari waters through gravity and lift irrigation projects, while preparing to meet the challenges posed by climate change.

He was speaking to the media after inspecting the off-take point and pumphouse of the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) at Ammagaripalli in Bhadradri Kothagudem district along with Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Thursday.

The Deputy CM said the government had drawn up a comprehensive plan for the optimum utilisation of  Godavari waters.

Recalling a recent review of the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, Mr. Vikramarka said all pumps at the Sammakka Barrage backwaters were operated at full capacity to fill 22 reservoirs spread across nearly 12 districts and 17 Assembly constituencies.

Directing the officials to expedite the SRLIP works, he said the government was determined to complete the project at the earliest and ensure irrigation water reached the tail-end ayacut.

He recalled that the Rajiv Sagar (Dummugudem) and the Indira Sagar Lift Irrigation Projects were conceived during the tenure of former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh late Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy to irrigate four lakh acres at an estimated cost of ₹3,505 crore. Nearly ₹2,000 had already been spent before the State’s bifurcation, he said.

Alleging that the previous BRS government redesigned the projects despite only about ₹1,505 crore being required to complete them, he claimed the project cost escalated to nearly ₹24,000 crore with the addition of the Seethamma Sagar Barrage.

He accused the previous BRS rulers of ‘looting’ thousands of crores of public funds in the name of ‘project redesign’.

The Deputy CM said the Congress government reviewed the project after assuming office and decided to complete, considering  the substantial public investment already made.

He said missing distributary canals and reservoir capacity issues were being addressed. The Rajiv Canal was being linked with the Sagar Canal, while link canals and tunnels were being built to fill the Wyra and Palair reservoirs. Works were also being accelerated to extend irrigation up to Sathupalli.

A month-wide action plan had been prepared and regular reviews were being conducted to ensure timely completion of the SRLIP works, he said, adding that funds would be released promptly for land acquisition, wherever required for irrigation project works.

Later, Mr. Vikramarka, along with the two Ministers, inspected the tunnel-point of the SRLIP at Yatalakunta in Sathupalli mandal and reviewed the progress of the works on the spot.