BRS demands for speedy completion of Palamuru projects

Former Minister S Niranjan Reddy accused the Congress government of neglecting irrigation projects in the Palamuru region and warned of protests. He demanded immediate action to complete pending works and ensure water supply during the monsoon

Hyderabad: Former Minister S Niranjan Reddy accused the Congress government of neglecting key irrigation projects in the Palamuru region. He warned of an intensified agitation if immediate steps were not taken to address the issue. He demanded that the government ensure that reservoirs under the Palamuru projects are filled during the upcoming monsoon.

Speaking at a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Niranjan Reddy announced that the BRS would finalise its action plan by the first week of May and launch protests, including padayatras, to mount pressure on the government. “We will expose those responsible for the delay and take the issue to the people’s court,” he said.

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He stressed the need to complete pending works under the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and ensure uninterrupted water supply through the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (KLI) project. He also demanded withdrawal of the proposed Gollapalli reservoir, alleging that the government ignored public opposition.

The former Minister said Palamuru, which was once prosperous, was pushed into drought, migration and poverty after the formation of Andhra Pradesh. He stated that the BRS government reversed this trend after 2014 by investing heavily in irrigation and development.

However, he alleged that the current Congress government’s inaction was pushing farmers back into distress. He questioned why no review meetings had been held on the Palamuru projects, despite the Chief Minister being from the region.

Niranjan Reddy also criticised both the State and Central governments for failing to secure clearances and resolve inter-State disputes linked to the project. He pointed out that only 10 per cent of the works remain pending and could be completed within a few months if taken up seriously. He warned that further delay in completing the irrigation projects would severely impact agriculture and livelihoods in the region.