Singh, popularly known as the “Waterman of India”, told South First that the manner in which the structures collapsed ruled out any natural cause.
Published Dec 24, 2025 | 12:39 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 24, 2025 | 12:39 AM
Rajendra Singh visited the two damaged check dams on Monday.
Synopsis: Conservationist Rajendra Singh has said that two check dams on the Maneru river in Karimnagar district of Telangana were deliberately blown up using explosives, pointing to organised sand mining. After inspecting the sites at Tanugula and Somanpalli on 22 December, Singh ruled out natural causes, and warned that more check dams could be destroyed without swift government action.
Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning conservationist Rajendra Singh has said that the damage to two check dams on the Maneru river at Tanugula and Somanpalli in Karimnagar district of Telangana bears clear signs of deliberate sabotage involving explosives, lending weight to allegations of rampant sand mining and administrative apathy in the state.
Singh, popularly known as the “Waterman of India”, visited the two damaged check dams on Monday, 22 December, and told South First that the manner in which the structures collapsed ruled out any natural cause.
“Holes were drilled using machines and gelatin sticks were inserted to blow them up,” he said, asserting that the destruction was clearly man-made.
He noted that it was not the flood season and dismissed suspicion of flash floods causing the damage.
“The check dams collapsed and fell against the direction of water flow. This would not happen due to natural causes,” he said, adding that the quality of construction was sound and that the structures could not have failed unless explosives were used.
An expert fact-finding committee led by former chairman of the Telangana Jana Vanarula Samstha V Prakash, in a report released earlier in the day, expressed concern over the trend of blowing up check dams and sought stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Singh said four FIRs have been registered following complaints filed by engineers and farmers. Farmers told the police that they heard loud explosions at night before the check dams collapsed.
While the FIRs do not name any suspects, the complainants have sought action against those responsible for damaging the structures.
Singh warned that if the state government failed to act decisively, more such structures could be destroyed.
“This is not just a loss to the government but also to farmers who depend on these check dams for groundwater recharge,” he said, calling for a thorough inquiry into the incident and immediate repairs to prevent further damage.
The issue has triggered a sharp political response from BRS Working President and former Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR), who accused the Congress government of presiding over what he described as a “full-fledged mafia rule”.
“What is happening in Telangana is not people’s governance,” KTR said, alleging that check dams built with crores of rupees of public money were being blown up to facilitate sand plunder.
Drawing a parallel with earlier controversies, he said, “Earlier, bombs were planted on the Kaleshwaram project for elections. Today, gelatin-stick bombs are being used to blow up check dams by sand mafia.”
KTR said Singh had conclusively demonstrated, with evidence, that drilling machines were used to bore holes into the structures before explosives were set off. He accused the government of remaining unmoved despite repeated warnings from the globally respected water expert.
“These check dams were built to recharge groundwater. Now they are being demolished, pushing farmers’ lands towards barrenness,” he said, asking whether the farming community was being sacrificed for the profits of sand contractors.
He dismissed the government’s claim that natural forces caused the collapse, stating that Singh’s findings were a “slap in the face” of ministers who attempted to downplay the incident. Targeting Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, KTR asked, “What is your answer now?”
“You may be incapable of creating development, but you are an expert at destroying existing assets,” he said, demanding that the real culprits behind the alleged sand mining mafia be exposed.
Echoing Singh’s call, KTR demanded the constitution of a People’s Enquiry Commission into the incident, warning that failure to act would have political repercussions. “If you do not act, the heat from these bomb blasts will inevitably reach your chair,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
