Congress faces flak for building hype over Chanaka-Korata project launched by KCR
The Congress government has drawn criticism for inaugurating the Chanaka-Korata irrigation project’s pump house, which was launched and trial-run during the BRS regime. Former minister Jogu Ramanna accused the government of seeking electoral mileage while farmers flagged pending compensation issues.
Adilabad: The Congress government is facing flak for building hype over the inauguration of a pump-house of the Chanaka-Korata inter-state irrigation project, which was launched and trial run conducted during the previous BRS regime.
After assuming power in 2014, the BRS gave paramount importance to the irrigation sector which was neglected by successive governments. Accordingly, it conceived the Chanaka-Korata inter-state irrigation project across Penganga river in Jainath mandal by holding a series of consultations with the Maharashtra government in 2016. It was touted as a lifeline for the district which was deprived of the facility for 40 years.
Envisioned to irrigate 51,000 acres across 89 villages in the district, the project, for which the then Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao laid the foundation, is one of three projects jointly taken up by both Telangana and Maharashtra, at an expenditure of Rs 1,227 crore.
Subsequently, the works of the barrage, pump house and canals were taken up at Korata village in Jainath mandal and Chanaka of Maharashtra in 2018.
Despite works being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic for a long time, a 343 metre barrage and installation of 23 crest gates, lifts, motors, delivery pipes and civil works of the pump house were completed by 2022. Works on the project were delayed due to a fund crunch for over 2 years.
However, a trial run was held by switching on motors at the pump house in Hattighat village in Bheempur mandal on September 28 in 2023. Three motors powered with 12 megawatts and three motors of 5.5 megawatts each were installed at the pump house to lift water by 42 metres. Another trial run was carried out at the house after a gap of 28 months.
Former minister Jogu Ramanna criticized the Congress for inaugurating the pump house. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is trying to claim credit for the project by switching on a pump house, he said, pointing out that the Congress had neglected both agriculture and the irrigation sector after being voted to power. Revanth Reddy is touring the district to gain electoral mileage, Ramanna said.
Meanwhile, around 90 farmers expressed displeasure against the government for delaying compensation extended to lands acquired for construction of the project at Pippalkoti village in Bheempur mandal. They wanted the government to immediately release the compensation of Rs 80 crore.
