"We can indulge in politics for six months and for the rest, let us forget politics and help the farmers," KT Rama Rao said.
Published Jul 26, 2024 | 8:25 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 26, 2024 | 8:25 PM
KT Rama Rao
BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Friday, 26 July, set a deadline of 2 August for the Telangana government to fill the reservoirs under the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).
Speaking to media persons after visiting the Kannepalle (Lakshmi) reservoir along with BRS MLAs and MLCs in erstwhile Karimnagar district, KTR said: “If the government does not act by the deadline, we will mobilise at least 50,000 farmers and switch on the motors of pump houses ourselves. We will ensure adequate water supply to parched lands.”
He asked the Congress leaders not to make the farmers go through an ordeal by politicising the issue. “Kaleswharam is like a cornucopia for Telangana. KCR had built the project in the shortest possible time. In the entire country, no project was built as fast. KCR did not want anyone to speak of draught anymore in Telangana,” he said.
The former BRS Minister said that after the advent of the Congress in the state, there was no water for irrigation unlike when the BRS was in power. “At present, there is no water in Sriram Sagar, and there is only 5 tmcft water in Lower Manair Dam. Another 5 tmcft water is available in Mid Manair Dam. Sriram Sagar, whose gross capacity is 90 tmcft, now has only 25 tmcft,” he said.
Rama Rao said that after the commissioning of Kaleswaram, drought-prone areas in the state have been receiving ample water. “Under Kaleswharam project, there was a provision to supply water to Hyderabad too. We have Kondapochamma Sagar with a capacity of 15 tmcft, and Mallanna Sagar with 50 tmcft. We can lift water into them from Lakshmi Pump House. But the Congress government is not bothered about the needs of the people. The flow in Godavari is about 10 lakh cusecs, which is going into the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari river is flowing at full speed at Kaleshwaram. But the water levels in reservoirs under Kaleshwaram have hit the rock bottom,” he said.
He further said that water could be lifted and released to irrigate farm lands in no time by switching on 17 pumps.
“If the pumps are operated everyday, 2 tmcft of water could be lifted. If the Congress government wants to help farmers, it could immediately ensure irrigation to 18 lakh acres. But the government is allowing water to flow into the Bay of Bengal. The farmers under Baswapur, Kondapochamma, Ranganayaka Sagar and Mallanna Sagar are waiting for water. Similarly farmers in Tungaturthi, Kodad, and Suryapet are also expecting Kaleshwaram water,” he said, adding that political parties should eschew politics when it comes to serving the farmers.
“We can indulge in politics for six months and for the rest of four and half years, let us forget politics and all help the farmers,” he said.
The BRS leader said that if water is lifted at Kannepalli, it would flow to Mid Manair in two days. “Mid Manair has been brimming with water for the last six to seven years. Now it has gone dry. The state government should take a decision on switching on motors at the pump houses. It is very clear that the state government is trying to shift the blame for not releasing water to the reservoirs,” he said.
The BRS leader said that he would raise the issue in the Assembly. “Citing a small setback to one of the barrages (Medigadda), the government is trying to paint the entire Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigations Scheme as one that has been poorly executed. On the contrary, it is one of the best in the entire world. Even the experts had vouched for its greatness. The Congress does not know how to use a great project which KCR had built,” he said.
(Edited by Neena)
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