Revanth Reddy rules out operating Kannepalli pump house, cites NDSA

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy rejected opposition demands to lift water from the Kanepalli pump house, citing NDSA recommendations that barrages cannot be operated without adequate storage. He accused BRS of misleading people, criticised BJP MP Etala Rajender for supporting the demand, and dismissed allegations of releasing water to Andhra Pradesh as "Guru Dakshina."

Hyderabad: Rejecting suggestions from retired engineers and demands from the opposition to lift water from Kannepalli pump house, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy maintained that the exercise was not feasible, citing the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA).

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said the NDSA had advised against closing the gates of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages. Unless about five tmcft of water was stored, the pumps could not be operated. Though water was currently flowing, it could not be lifted, he said.

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Revanth Reddy explained that water lifted at the Kannepalli pump house had to be supplied to the Annaram barrage. If water was lifted without closing the Medigadda gates, it would flow back into the Kannepalli pump house, he contended. Likewise, water could not be pumped into the Saraswathi pump house without closing the Annaram gates.

“The BRS is indulging in mudslinging politics and misleading the people to defame the State government. Lifting water is not possible,” the Chief Minister said.

Revanth Reddy said the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti had constituted a Technical Oversight Committee for the rehabilitation of the Kaleshwaram barrages, with an NDSA Technical Member serving as its chairman. The committee would examine various technical aspects and submit its report, he said. The Chief Minister reiterated that repair works would be taken up only after approval from the Central Water Commission (CWC) or the NDSA and would not yield to any external pressure, he asserted.

Targets Etala Rajender

Revanth Reddy criticised BJP MP Etala Rajender for supporting the BRS demand to operate the Kannepalli pump house to meet farmers’ needs.

Alleging that the Malkajgiri MP was acting at the behest of former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, the Chief Minister said Etala Rajender had damaged his credibility by aligning with his former gang. He challenged the BJP MP and BRS leaders to present their case before the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the NDSA Chairman. The State government was prepared to hand over the barrages to the NDSA for rehabilitation, and they could convince the experts to permit temporary water lifting, he said.

Responds to ‘Guru Dakshina’ Charge

Rejecting the opposition’s allegation that water was being released downstream to Andhra Pradesh as “Guru Dakshina,” Revanth Reddy said the Polavaram project was still under construction. He said the Andhra Pradesh government was diverting Godavari water to the Krishna delta through the Pattiseema project, a practice that had continued during the previous BRS government as well.

On Drought Contingency

Asked about contingency measures to tackle drought, the Chief Minister said “The BRS leaders should be cut and their blood should be supplied in the fields. Their fat will also be useful”. He said the government had been advising farmers for the past six months to adopt crop diversification. Paddy cultivation required large quantities of water, and in view of the rainfall deficit, farmers could face losses if they continued with the crop, he said.