Telangana's Costly Irrigation Project Delays: A Financial and Developmental Quagmire

The cost of 20 irrigation projects in Telangana has doubled from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore due to delays, as reported by the CAG. Non-completion has led to economic losses and deprived the state of intended benefits. Despite significant budget allocations, key projects remain unfinished.

The cost of Telangana's 20 irrigation projects, initiated between 1983 and 2018, has surged from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore as of March 2023, according to a CAG report.

This report, presented to the state legislature on Friday, highlights that non-completion of these projects has deprived the state of expected economic benefits, and there's no assurance on returns from these investments as the government didn't disclose financial results.

Rs 1,73,564 crore has already been spent on these projects, with an additional pending liability of Rs 8,971 crore for 13 incomplete projects, underscoring inordinate delays that not only inflate financial burdens but also deny public benefits. The Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration further faces issues, with a proposed Rs 10,000 crore budget for river projects remaining unutilised in 2020-21, subsequently reduced and unused in following years.