HYDERABAD: BRS MLA and former T Harish Rao demanded that the state government provide irrigation water to farmers by operating the Kannepalli pump house.
Addressing the media here, the former irrigation minister claimed it was possible to draw water through the Kannepalli pump house “irrespective” of whether the gates of the Medigadda barrage are operated. “There is a drought-like situation in northern Telangana and if this situation continues, it would create both irrigation and drinking water problems,” he said.
Harish said that if the government fails to operate Kaleshwaram motors to fill the reservoirs and provide water for the first crop, lakhs of farmers would march to Kannepalli and turn on the motors. “We will not spare this government. We will show the true strength of people’s power,” he declared.
The BRS leader said that the farmers in the state were extremely worried and unable to sow seeds due to lack of water. “In many areas, there is confusion among the farmers whether to proceed with transplantation under irrigation projects or not,” he said.
“Due to good rains in neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, Krishna and Godavari saw floods as early as May but the government failed to store water in reservoirs,” he alleged.
Harish also alleged that the ruling Congress, out of “spite and vengeance” against former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was neglecting the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. He said that though all the gates at Medigadda barrage were open, two tmcft water could still be drawn per day using the Kannepalli pump house motors, while pointing out that 73,600 cusecs of water is currently flowing at Medigadda.
He also recalled that floods reached Jurala on May 28. Only after BRS local leaders questioned officials, one motor was started on June 12 and another on June 25, he added.