Dindi lift project from Edula will escalate costs, harm Palamuru interests: Chinna Reddy

Telangana State Planning Board Vice Chairman G. Chinna Reddy accused the Congress government of neglecting Palamuru’s irrigation interests, alleging cost escalation in the Dindi Lift Irrigation project and illegal diversion of Krishna waters by Andhra Pradesh.

Wanaparthy: Exposing what he described as the Revanth Reddy government’s failure to protect the irrigation interests of the erstwhile Palamuru region, Telangana State Planning Board Vice Chairman G Chinna Reddy charged that despite repeated warnings, the Congress government was proceeding with the Dindi Lift Irrigation project from Edula reservoir, leading to a steep escalation in costs.

“I have been raising concerns over the injustice being meted out to erstwhile Palamuru, but my voice is being scuttled. None is bothered to address these concerns and other senior leaders are staying calm,” Chinna Reddy charged while speaking to media persons here on Wednesday.

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He alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government was illegally drawing 99 cusecs of water through the Pothiredypadu Lift Irrigation project. Initially designed with a capacity of 11 cusecs, it was later increased to 99 cusecs, he said.

“This exploitation should be stopped. If it is not curtailed, water availability for SLBC and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation will be lost,” Chinna Reddy said, according to reports.

The Congress leader made these remarks even as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy claimed in the Assembly that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had stopped the project following his appeal.

Expressing concern over the State government’s plans to take up the Dindi Lift Irrigation project from Edula reservoir, the State Planning Board Vice Chairman said it was originally part of the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation scheme and had a much smaller capacity.

If the Dindi project was taken up from Vattem or Karivena reservoirs, which have a capacity of 15 tmcft, water could be supplied to Dindi at a much lower cost, he explained.

“The Dindi lift project, if taken up at Vattem or Karivena reservoirs, can be completed with Rs.300 crore, but the State government has approved plans to take it up with Rs.1,800 crore through Edula reservoir,” Chinna Reddy reportedly slammed.

He also charged that former Chief Minister Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy had constructed the KC Canal with a partisan attitude favouring the Andhra region, resulting in injustice to Telangana.

All attempts were being made to trigger inter-State disputes over irrigation projects, he alleged. For every minor issue, complaints were being lodged with the Apex Council, Brijesh Kumar Tribunal and the Union Jal Shakti Ministry. Considering the irrigation requirements of the erstwhile Palamuru region, 90 tmcft should be allocated to the PLRI scheme, he added.

“Revanth Reddy announced that Palamuru will be developed with Rs. 1 lakh crore, but if our interests are not protected, none from Palamuru will become Chief Minister in future,” Chinna Reddy said.