Etala Rajender backs BRS demand to operate Kanepally pump house

BJP MP Etala Rajender urged the Telangana government to operate the Kannepally pump house, saying it would help utilise available Godavari water for irrigation and drinking purposes. He also cautioned about possible drought conditions linked to El Nino and urged the government to avoid political considerations

Hyderabad: BJP MP from Malkajgiri Etala Rajender on Monday backed the BRS argument for operating the Kannepally pump house and urged the Congress government to set aside political differences and utilise the available infrastructure in the interest of farmers and to meet drinking water needs.

Speaking to media persons, Rajender said the pump houses at Annaram, Sundilla and Yellampally were in proper working condition. He maintained that the engineering advantage of the Kannepally pump house was that it could be operated even when the inflow was around 50,000 cusecs.

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He claimed that nearly 90,000 cusecs of Godavari water was currently flowing downstream into the sea and argued that the opportunity should be utilised to lift water.

“The River Godavari flows downstream only after reaching the Kannepally pump house. There are also reports that El Nino could result in deficient rainfall and trigger drought conditions. The government should not have any reservations about operating the pump house,” he said.

Rajender pointed out that, fearing the impact of El Nino, many farmers had not taken up full-scale sowing operations even in July. He also noted that Telangana depended heavily on the Rivers Krishna and Godavari to meet its drinking water requirements and warned that Hyderabad could face a drinking water shortage if adequate storage was not ensured.

“Thousands of crores of rupees have been invested in creating this infrastructure. Since the Kannepally pump house is operational, water should be lifted immediately to help meet Hyderabad’s drinking water needs,” Rajender said.

The BJP MP said the Congress government should refrain from politicising the issue and should not hesitate to operate the project merely because it was constructed during the previous BRS government.

“The government can investigate the alleged irregularities and punish those responsible in accordance with the law. But the people, particularly the farming community, should not be made to suffer,” Rajender said.