Ponnala slams Congress’ new irrigation alignment, calls land transfer policy ‘biggest land loot’

BRS leader Ponnala Lakshmaiah criticised the Congress government’s new Pranahita–Chevella alignment, calling it a ₹9,000–₹12,000 crore waste. He and G. Deviprasad accused the government of failed promises and termed the industrial land transfer policy the “biggest land loot.”

Hyderabad: BRS leader and former Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Friday questioned the need for pumping of water from Tummidi Hatti to Sundilla and then to Yellampally project under the new plans of the Congress government. Addressing a news conference along with G. Deviprasad, he said the new alignment of the Pranahita-Chevalla project lacked thorough investigation. Drawing water from Tummidi Hatti to Sundilla and pumping it back to the Yellampalli project using the infrastructure of the KLIP would involve a wasteful expenditure of Rs 9,000–Rs 12,000 crore. There was no need for this new alignment as water from Yellampally is already flowing wastefully into the sea.

Ponnala said that the Hyderabad Industrial lands Transfer policy” is actually not confined to Hyerabad city. It would be implemented as Telangana Industrial Land Transfer policy all over the state. It is going to emerge as the biggest land loot policy.

---

Future City and Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme are unnecessary when Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation project comes to fruition. Over 90 percent of the works on the project were already completed. He said that the plans to use satellite imagery for the implementation of Raitu Bandhu to cut direct transfers would once again give scope for corruption.

G. Deviprasad stated that as the Congress government is completing two years in power and no section of society is satisfied with its performance. He claimed that all poll guarantees have been “thrown to the wind” and credited BRS, under KCR’s leadership, for effectively playing the role of principal opposition in the last two years.

Deviprasad recalled that on November 29, 2009, K. Chandrashekar Rao began his historic fast-unto-death for Telangana statehood, forcing the Centre to announce the formation of the state. He alleged that the same forces that once opposed Telangana statehood are now trying to defame K. Chandrashekhar Rao and BRS and attack Telangana’s identity.

He announced that on the occasion of KCR’s fast day (November 29), BRS will vow to protect Telangana from “anti-Telangana forces.”