Congress Minister Tummala also party to decision in favour of Medigadda barrage: Harish Rao

BRS leader Harish Rao clarified that the Medigadda barrage decision under the Kaleshwaram project was a collective cabinet move. He highlighted the role of current Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao in approving the site shift based on technical and environmental assessments.

Hyderabad: Reiterating that the construction of the Medigadda barrage as part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme could not be attributed singularly to any individual or entity, BRS leader T Harish Rao on Saturday recalled that even the present Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao was also a signatory to the decision making process in favour of it.

In a compelling powerpoint presentation delivered at Telangana Bhavan, the former Irrigation Minister highlighted that Nageswara Rao was a key member of a three-member cabinet sub-committee formed during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government to oversee the redesign and reengineering process involving the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. This sub-committee was critical in shaping the project, including the decision to shift the main barrage’s location from Tummidi Hatti to Medigadda.

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The sub-committee was headed by Harish Rao, with Nageswara Rao, then Minister for Roads and Buildings ( Presently Congress Minister), and Etala Rajendar, then Finance Minister, (Presently BJP MP) as members. The cabinet subcommittee was responsible for reviewing and approving critical aspects of the project after consultations with technical and expert committees.

The decision for construction of the Medigadda barrage was made after a thorough discussion with technical and expert agencies concerned, which provided reports justifying the shift based on engineering, hydrological, and interstate considerations, particularly to avoid issues with Maharashtra while addressing the environmental concerns.

The former minister detailed how the cabinet’s approval rested on recommendations from WAPCOS, an organization under the Central Water Commission. WAPCOS conducted a LiDAR survey to evaluate the site’s suitability for the dam, providing a scientific foundation for the decision. Rao emphasized that the process also involved inputs from retired engineers, state engineers, and extensive deliberations within the cabinet, which facilitated the re-engineering and eventual construction of the barrage.

“The Medigadda barrage was a cornerstone of the Kaleshwaram project, designed to boost Telangana’s irrigation and agricultural potential,” Rao asserted during the presentation, which was streamed live and attended by party leaders including the BRS working president, K T Rama Rao.