Congress government depriving water to Telangana farm lands to target KCR, says BRS

BRS leaders accused the Congress government of sabotaging the Kaleshwaram project by not releasing irrigation water, pushing farmers into crisis. They alleged a political conspiracy to discredit KCR and warned of backlash in the upcoming local body elections.

Hyderabad: Opposition leader in Legislative Council S Madhusudhana Chari lashed out at the Congress government for deliberately neglecting farmers and reducing irrigation coverage to discredit the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. He said agricultural lands under the project were being deprived of water to target former Chief Minister cand the erstwhile BRS government.

“This government has become a curse for farmers. They are reviving the the pre-2014 drought conditions in Telangana without lifting water from Godavari River,” he said.

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Speaking at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, Madhusudhana Chari said against around nine lakh acres ayacut under SRSP (Sri Ram Sagar Project) Phase-1, the government assured irrigation water to only two lakh acres. He stated that the Congress government announced its irrigation schedule after the farmers commenced sowing operation, indicating its indifference towards farmers.

“The irrigation policy is directionless. Instead of switching on the Kaleshwaram project motors, the government is spreading lies and leaving fields to dry, only to discredit the project and subsquently target KCR,” he said, demanding immediate activation of the Kaleshwaram project to protect standing crops.

Former MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy criticised the government for not switching on the Kaleshwaram project motors even when 1.45 lakh cusecs are flowing at Medigadda. He stated that pumping motors at Annaram and Sundilla barrages also remain unused not due to technical issues, but because of a political conspiracy to tarnish the image of Chandrashekhar Rao and T Harish Rao.

“The government is prioritising vendetta politics, over farmers’ welfare and agricultural progress,” he added.

They warned that farmers could take to the streets in protest. “If the Congress government fails to act, they will face farmers’ wrath in the local body polls,” they said, adding that the BRS would extend complete support.