The scheme, part of the larger Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP), was commissioned at Marellapadu village in Bhadradri Kothagudem district with an estimated outlay of ₹61 crore.
With the pumps switched on at the newly built Marellapadu pumphouse, water from the Godavari River is now being released into the Thummalacheruvu reservoir, providing the first phase of assured irrigation to farmers in the area.
Officials said the project will be rolled out in stages, eventually covering nearly 23,000 acres across the mandal, a significant expansion from the initial tranche.
During a speech in nearby Gondigudem village, Minister Srinivas Reddy pledged to fast‑track land acquisition and forest clearances for the long‑pending Pulusubontha project, linking its completion to the broader goal of expanding irrigation infrastructure in the former undivided Khammam district.
He also accused the incumbent BRS government of spending “thousands of crores” on redesigning irrigation projects at the state’s expense, while asserting that the Congress‑led administration would accelerate project completions to secure reliable water supplies for farmers.
Mahabubabad MP P. Balram Naik, Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu and other local leaders attended the inauguration, underscoring the political significance of the scheme for the region’s agrarian community.