Revanth Reddy slams Fadnavis over Tummidihatti barrage talks

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy criticised Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for not responding to his request for a meeting on finalising the height of the proposed Tummidihatti barrage on the Godavari River.

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday alleged that his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis has still not responded to his request for a meeting to discuss finalising the height of a proposed barrage at Tummidihatti on the Godavari River.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently suggested resolving inter-state water issues amicably, the Maharashtra CM is not responding, Reddy said in an informal interaction with mediapersons here.

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Reddy has recently written a letter to Fadnavis seeking to meet him to discuss the height of the barrage at Tummidihatti on the inter-state border on Godavari river.

Some places in Maharashtra may be submerged if the proposed barrage project of Telangana is completed successfully and in order to address this issue the meeting with Fadnavis is requested, according to government sources.

Responding to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy’s criticism that the Congress government has failed and neglected paddy procurement during the current Rabi season and tried to shift the blame onto the Centre, the chief minister alleged that the farmers are suffering as the Central government is not purchasing adequately.

The state government would purchase paddy, maize and jowar from farmers and the Centre should procure from the state, the CM said.

Revanth Reddy said the state government has formed the Rythu Power Distribution Company to handle agriculture, Lift Irrigation Schemes and other farmer-related issues to ensure 24×7 free and quality power to the ryots.

The Rythu Distribution Company would promote accountablity and the government would be able to purchase power at a low price, he said.

On BRS allegation that the Congress government would install metres for agriculture pumpsets to roll back free power to farmers, he said Congress would not contest polls if it installed metres or if it stopped free power to farmers.

He asked if BRS would stay from polls if the Congress government continued free power scheme or if it does not install metres.

The allegation of BRS stemmed from the state cabinet’s recent approval of the proposals of state power distribution companies to join the RDSS (Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme) of the Centre for improvement of power distribution and infrastructure facilities.

Hitting out at the BRS, the chief minister said the BRS is seeking to get a “lifeline” under the garb of taking up farmers’ causes.