TS pushes Centre for early NDSA visit to Medigadda

He, however, hastened to add that the governance was a continuous process and it would repay the loans.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy speaks to the media.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy speaks to the media.(Photo | Vinay Madapu, EPS)

HYDERABAD : Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday said that the state government was expecting the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) to submit its report within one month after its team visits the Medigadda barrage.

Speaking to reporters here, he said that the government would take further action as soon as it receives the NDSA report on the sinking of Medigadda piers.

“I will be leaving for New Delhi on Saturday to ask the Jal Shakti Ministry to expedite the process and send the NDSA team at the earliest. We want the NDSA team to submit its report immediately after its visit to the barrage,” he said.

Commenting on BRS leaders demanding that the government take up Medigadda repair works immediately, Uttam said that the suggestions of NDSA will be more valuable than the ones given by BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao. “The government would adopt the suggestions given by the NDSA team,” he said.

When asked about the repayment of loans taken for Kaleshwaram project, the minister said: “KCR and KTR should repay the loans from their earnings.”

He, however, hastened to add that the governance was a continuous process and it would repay the loans. “The huge debt was a legacy of KCR. The BRS government burdened the people of Telangana with a huge debt. The per capita debt burden increased 10 times during the BRS regime,” Uttam said.

Welcomes Centre’s decision

The minister welcomed the Union government’s decision to constitute an expert committee on Medigadda. The committee will visit all the three barrages — Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla — and suggest a way forward to the government on rectifying defects in designs, operation and maintenance and planning, he said.

Stating that the previous BRS government failed to provide information sought by NDSA, he said: “The Congress government will provide all the available information to the NDSA.”

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