BRS warning prompts Telangana govt to operate Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme pumps

The Telangana government began operating pumps of the Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme on Saturday after the BRS warned of protests over the delay in releasing irrigation water. Pumps at Yellur, Jonnalaboguda and Gudipalli Gattu were operated.

Hyderabad: A day after the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) warned of staging protests, the Congress government woke up from its slumber and began operating the Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme pumps on Saturday to provide irrigation water.

Two pumps were operated at Yellur and 1,600 cusecs was lifted. Similarly, two pumps were operated at Jonnalaboguda to lift 1,500 cusecs. The two pumps at Gudipalli Gattu were operated to lift 1,300 cusecs.

---

All this came after the BRS had warned of staging protests if the Congress government failed to operate the pumps.

Former Agriculture Minister Niranjan Reddy had slammed the government, saying that despite considerable inflows, the Congress government was not operating the pumps. He had set a deadline of August 11 for releasing irrigation water from projects on the River Krishna basin in the Palamuru region.

The BRS had warned of conducting a protest at Narlapur if the Congress government did not operate the pumps and release water to the farming community. BRS working president KT Rama Rao was scheduled to participate in the protest.

The BRS had accused the government of deliberately withholding water despite inflows into projects. About 2.30 lakh cusecs was flowing from Jurala towards Srisailam.

The farmers, especially those who are cultivating paddy, are worried over the lack of water for farming. After the recent rains and substantial inflows, farmers are waiting for irrigation water to be released.

However, the BRS warning has spurred the government into action and accordingly pumps at Yellur, Jonnalaboguda and Gudipalli Gattu were operated to release water.