Water pumping to commence from Annaram, Medigadda soon

Telangana government would not be spending even a rupee for repairs and other costs of the pump houses which got submerged during the recent floods in Godavari River, Finance Minister said.

Hyderabad: Allaying apprehensions of the Opposition parties over not supplying water from Kaleshwaram project for next four years, Finance Minister T Harish Rao said pumping would resume from Annaram and Medigadda pump houses by third week this month and October last week respectively.

The Minister also said that State government would not be spending even a rupee for repairs and other costs of the pump houses which got submerged during the recent floods in Godavari River. The entire cost would be borne by the agency as per Defect Liability Period norms, he said.

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In a detailed explanation to the Members in the Legislative Council here on Tuesday, the Finance Minister said sufficient water would be supplied to the farming community during the Yasangi season as was done in the past.

“The Central government should be ready to procure paddy from the State as there will be bumper production in the Yasangi season as well,” Harish Rao said amidst thumping of benches by TRS members.

During a discussion on the impact of River Godavari floods occurred recently, the Finance Minister lashed out at BJP leaders both from the State and the Centre for indulging in mudslinging politics during floods. He ridiculed the BJP leaders’ remarks that water cannot be supplied from Kaleshwaram project for the next four years, due to the damages incurred during the floods.

“Out of 21 pump houses in the Kaleshwaram project, only Medigadda and Annaram pump houses got submerged due to the flash floods. They will be operationalised in a few weeks,” he added.

Refuting the BJP’s charges that Kaleshwaram was executed without required permissions, the Finance Minister said the Central Government had accorded 10 permissions, including approving the project estimates and listed out the departments, which gave clearances.

“While one union Minister boasts of issuing retrospective permissions for Kaleshwaram, another union Minister accuses that project was constructed without permissions. This reflects the BJPs double standards” said Harish Rao.

Citing the escalating cost of land, cement, steel and other components, he stated that Telangana Government had saved lot of public money by completing Kaleshwaram project in about four years.

The cost of Nagarjuna Sagar, Polavaram, SRSP and other projects had increased by five to 10 percent as there was inordinate delay in completion and Narmada project was completed after 38 years, he pointed out.

The Finance Minister further said Kaleshwaram project loans were obtained from government banks and institutions. “If the BJP leaders are so worried about interest rates, then I request them to write to Central Government to slash the interest rates,” Harish Rao said.