BRS criticises Congress for deliberately stalling irrigation operations, warns of agitations

BRS leaders accused the Congress government of halting key irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram and SRSP, warned of farmer backlash, and criticised the promotion of unapproved schemes such as Tummidi Hatti

Hyderabad: The BRS on Monday accused the Congress government of deliberately stalling the operation of key irrigation projects built during the K Chandrashekhar Rao government, including the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. The party also warned of Statewide agitations if work on the Banakacherla project proceeds.

Speaking to media persons at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, former MLA T Rajaiah said the Kaleshwaram project, which was designed to benefit 22 districts with all necessary clearances, was being maligned as a failed project, while the Congress leaders pushed unviable plans like Tummidi Hatti, which lacked permissions.

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The Sammakka Sarakka Barrage, which was completed 90 per cent under the BRS government, had seen no significant progress in the past 20 months, with machinery deteriorating and Devadula motors lying idle. The solar power plant announced by the Congress also did not see any progress, he said, stating that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was acting as an agent of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and attempting to dry up the Kaleshwaram project, while green-lighting the Banakacherla project in Andhra Pradesh.

Former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy charged that despite Godavari River waters flowing at 93 metres, the government was refusing to operate Medigadda pumps, reducing cultivation in 14 lakh acres under SRSP (Sri Ram Sagar Project) ayacut. He said the Warangal tour of the Ministers was a Rs 50 lakh photo-op with no tangible work.

He warned that farmers would chase away Congress leaders from villages during the local body polls for depriving them of water. Though the engineers of the Irrigation department expressed their readiness to operate the Kannepalli pumps, the government had kept them at a standstill, he said.