Telangana Government deliberately damaging Kaleshwaram motor pumps, alleges BRS MLA Harish Rao

Former Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA T. Harish Rao alleged that motors at Kaleshwaram are being deliberately switched on and off twice a day, risking permanent damage to the machinery. 

“These are not household pumps. Each motor consumes power equivalent to an entire district’s usage. Repeated on-and-off operations could destroy them, causing losses worth thousands of crores,” he warned.

Speaking to reporters at Siddipet on Sunday (August 17, 2025), he said he saw a criminal conspiracy and the Telangana Government must come clean. He also alleged that the government’s “criminal negligence” in managing irrigation projects is causing irreparable damage to farmers across Telangana.

He said reservoirs such as Ranganayak Sagar, Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar, and Baswapur remain largely empty, despite huge inflows into projects such as Sripada Yellampalli and Kaddem.

 “Just by operating the motors at Nandi Medaram, two TMCs of water can be pumped daily into Mid Manair. From there, it could be released into various reservoirs to irrigate lakhs of acres. Why is the government not acting?” he questioned.

“Farmers know the value of every drop, but the present rulers do not. Former CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao ensured every drop was utilised. Today, farmers are suffering due to this government’s inaction,” he remarked accusing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy of turning a blind eye to the issue, while Krishna and Godavari waters flow wastefully into the sea.

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He said Mid Manair reservoir, with a capacity of 30 TMCs, holds only 10 TMCs while the LMD, which can store 24 TMCs, currently has only seven TMCs. Similarly, Baswapur, with 12 TMC capacity, holds barely half a TMC and Mallanna Sagar (50 TMCs capacity) has just 10 TMC. 

Mr. Harish Rao also warned that if the government fails to act, farmers along with BRS activists would themselves take control and switch on the Kaleshwaram motors to ensure water supply. 

He demanded immediate pumping of two TMCs of water daily from Yellampalli into Mid Manair, and from there to other reservoirs including Ranganayak Sagar, Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar, and Baswapur, to save the crop.