NIRMAL: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday accused the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led previous BRS government of neglecting Telangana’s rights in Godavari river water, thereby giving Andhra Pradesh an opportunity to proceed with the Nallamalasagar project.
Stating that the present Congress government has consistently opposed the Nallamalasagar project of Andhra Pradesh, he said that “objections were raised before the Central Water Commission, the Union government and other relevant platforms, and the issue was also challenged in the Supreme Court”.
“The Pranahitha-Chevella project at Tummidihatti was neglected and its location was later shifted to the Kaleshwaram project, which ultimately collapsed. Under the original plan, water from Tummidihatti was to be supplied by gravity to the Sundilla and Yellampalli projects,” he said and added that survey works for the Pranahitha project are currently underway.
The minister also said that Rs 100 crore has been released for the Chanaka-Korata barrage and Rs 100 crore more will be sanctioned within a week. “The government has also sanctioned Rs 97 crore under Package-27 of the Kaleshwaram project,” he added.
Uttam further said that the Saraswati canal modernisation, Swarna project, PP Rao project, Vattivagu and other irrigation works from the erstwhile Adilabad district will be taken up on a priority basis.
The minister, meanwhile, said that Telangana has become the first state in the country to produce and procure 70 lakh metric tonnes of paddy.
Prohibition & Excise Minister and district in-charge Jupally Krishna Rao said that the Sadarmat barrage was neglected during the 10-year rule of BRS. He alleged that the previous government focused on diversion of public funds, pushing the state into heavy debt. He also announced that `100 crore will be sanctioned for the Basara master plan.