Switch on Kaleshwaram PHs to protect wilting crops: Harish

HYDERABAD

Former minister for irrigation and senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) T. Harish Rao has alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy continues to politicise the issue of Kaleshwaram barrages, though about 80 tmc ft of water is flowing past the Medigadda Barrage every day.

The Congress government is continuously indulging in spreading misinformation on Kaleshwaram barrages, and repeatedly is stating that the project has collapsed. He sought to know from the government how the collapsed barrage (Medigadda) is handling/withstanding over 8 lakh cusecs of flood with heavy rain in the upstream Maharashtra and flood in Pranahita and its tributaries.

Speaking in Siddipet on Saturday, he brought to the government notice that cotton on other standing crops were wilting and withering due to deficient rainfall in many areas, including the areas that could be served/irrigated with Kaleshwaram water. The Chief Minister is politicising the issue and not allowing switching on the pump houses and a week’s run would fill most of the online reservoirs, he said.

In case the Medigadda Barrage has collapsed, how it is withstanding over 3 tmc ft of water flow every hour and how heavy vehicles such as lorries are plying on the bridge, he asked, and sought to know whether Ranganarakasagar, Mallannasagar and Kondapochammasagar were not Kaleshwaram project. If the government has guts, it should convene the Assembly and allow BRS to present its view without cutting the mike, Mr. Harish Rao said.

He alleged that Mr. Revanth Reddy was not allowing switching on of the Kaleshwaram pump houses with the jealous that such an act would bring name to former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Expressing his joy over switching on the motors of Sitarama Lift Irrigation Scheme, Mr. Rao asked the government to switch on the motors of Kannepally and two other pump houses to take water to Yellampally – from there for onward journey towards Mid-Manair, Annapurna (Ananthagiri) reservoir, Ranganayakasagar, Mallannasagar, Kondapochammasagar and others to protect the standing crops.