Telangana would have weathered El Nino better but for BRS regime mistakes: Uttam Kumar Reddy

HYDERABAD

Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is using the drought conditions due to the El Nino phenomenon and its failure in the construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of Kaleshwaram Project.

The misinformation campaign being run by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and former Ministers K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao would put even Joseph Goebbels to shame, Mr. Reddy said, addressing a press conference here on Saturday. Had the BRS government in the past completed Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, SLBC and Sita Rama projects, the problems of the farming community in the present drought conditions would have been lesser.

He stated that the Congress government had achieved record paddy production and procurement without using the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram Project. The BRS leaders were spreading misinformation only to cover up their government’s mistakes in the construction of three barrages. They were enacting a new drama now, though Medigadda was damaged when they were in power, he alleged.

The Minister pointed out that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) study of the Kaleshwaram Barrages had identified poor designs and construction, and they were also ratified by the technical, judicial and vigilance reports. The BRS leaders were trying to mislead the farming community only to cover up their mistakes, but the farmers were not subscribing to their storytelling, he said.

Had the previous government made proper use of the money borrowed during 10 years on pending irrigation projects, the problems of the farming community now could have been avoided, he said adding that the completion of Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, SLBC and Sita Rama, Pranahitha-Chevella, Devadula and other projects would have helped the government face the El Niño-impacted drought effectively.

He mentioned that the NDSA had recommended keeping the barrages’ gates open and the government was moving forward in the matter of rehabilitation of the barrages based on the recommendations of the Indian and international experts in the restoration of irrigation structures. Finalisation of designs for the rehabilitation of the barrages was in progress and there was no mala fide or political intentions in the restoration, he said.

The Minister stated that the broad designs propose extending the stilling basins to 66 metres at Medigadda and Annaram and 58 metres at Sundilla, compared to their existing lengths of 46.8 metres, 45 metres and 30 metres, respectively.