Harish Rao slams Revanth Reddy over Kaleshwaram remarks

BRS leader T Harish Rao criticised Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over remarks on the Kaleshwaram project, alleging inconsistency. He also raised concerns over agriculture, welfare delays and governance, asserting that the BRS would return to power.

Hyderabad: BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao criticised Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for terming the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme a failed project earlier and now indirectly acknowledging its utility. He said the Chief Minister lacked technical understanding of irrigation systems and was making irresponsible remarks.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, Harish Rao said Revanth Reddy had indirectly admitted that Kaleshwaram remains functional by promising repairs to the Medigadda barrage. “For months, the Congress claimed the project had collapsed. Now they say it can be repaired and used. This exposes their false narrative,” he said.

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The former Irrigation Minister attributed the shift to warnings of a possible drought due to a Super El Nino. He said repair works were delayed despite expert advice and repeated demands by the BRS. Detailing the project’s scale, he said Kaleshwaram comprises three barrages, 15 reservoirs, 19 substations, 21 pump houses, 203 km of tunnels and over 1,500 km of canals, with a storage capacity of 141 TMC ft. “Each component is critical to ensuring irrigation support across Telangana, even during drought,” he added.

Harish Rao also dismissed claims by the Chief Minister on the Yellampalli project, asserting that key works were completed during the BRS regime. He said the previous BRS government expanded irrigation coverage and modernised the Sriram Sagar Project canals, including its long-pending second phase.

“Revanth Reddy said I was roaming in my shorts when former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation stone. But the fact is that I was a Minister in the YSR Cabinet, while Revanth Reddy himself was roaming in his knickers among my followers,” he said, offering to send photographs if Revanth Reddy wanted.

The senior BRS leader accused Revanth Reddy of attempting to politically counter BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao by holding a parallel public meeting in the same region during the latter’s Jagtial rally. “Instead of focusing on governance, he chose competition. The public response made the difference clear,” he said, pointing to online viewership for both the meetings.

On agriculture, Harish Rao alleged that the Congress government had failed farmers, citing delays in Rythu Bharosa payments and fertiliser shortages. He said only Rs 2,000 per acre was released in haste ahead of the BRS meeting, leaving dues pending. “Why should farmers wait for political events to receive their dues?” he asked.

He also raised concerns over delays in welfare payments, employment promises and infrastructure works. “The government has failed farmers, youth, employees and the poor,” he said, asserting that despite Revanth Reddy’s diversion politics, the BRS will return to power.