BRS MLAs corner Congress government during Zero Hour over irrigation, power and fund delays

BRS MLAs raised issues such as washed-away check dams, urea shortage, power supply problems and delays in fund release during Zero Hour in the Assembly. They accused the Congress government of neglecting farmers and stalling key infrastructure and irrigation projects.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs raised a range of issues, including check dams being washed away, urea shortage and delays in the release of funds, and cornered the Congress government during Zero Hour in the Assembly on Monday.

Commotion prevailed for a while when Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy charged that check dams were being washed away in his constituency, comparing them to the Medigadda barrage pillars. Objecting to his remarks, treasury bench members sprang to their feet and demanded that he refrain from making what they termed as false allegations.

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Dubbak MLA Kotha Prabhakara Reddy said farmers in his constituency were facing several hardships due to urea shortage and limited power supply. He said the government had introduced apps for the convenience of farmers, but these were practically not feasible for them to use to obtain fertiliser bags.

He further said power supply to farmers was limited to eight to nine hours a day. When the issue was raised with Energy Department officials, they reportedly cited a shortage of transformers, cables and budgetary support, the MLA said.

“If this is the situation during the sowing season, what will be the situation in April?” Prabhakara Reddy wondered.

Jangaon MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy said the construction of a bridge across a canal on the Husnabad Jangaon main road was stopped abruptly due to delays in clearing bills amounting to Rs 90 lakh.

“I have raised this issue thrice in the House and submitted representations to six Ministers. For the last two years, there has been no written response from the Ministers,” Rajeshwar Reddy said.

Bhongir MLA Anil Kumar Reddy said the Basawapuram reservoir project was almost complete, barring ten per cent of the works. However, delays in releasing relief and rehabilitation and other funds for Timmapur had slowed down the project, he said.

“About Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 1,600 crore were already spent towards the project works in the past. The Congress government released Rs 30 crore and another Rs 100 crore has to be released, failing which the entire investment on the project would go futile,” the MLA said.