BRS attributes drought to govt. failure to utilise available water, generate power

HYDERABAD

Senior leader of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) T. Harish Rao blamed the Congress government in the State for prevalence of drought conditions more due to its failure to utilise the Godavari water rather than the El Nino phenomenon.

Speaking at Kagaz Maddur in Narsapur constituency of Medak district on Saturday, he said the drought was Congress-induced than nature-induced and alleged that the Congress government was subjecting farmers to avoidable drought conditions by not lifting Godavari water from Medigadda barrage, despite the problem in the structure being shown through a magnifying glass.

Although the India Meteorological Department had warned about the impending drought conditions due to the El Nino impact more than six months ago, the government did not lift Godavari water in ample quantities sufficient for two crop seasons and drinking needs and did not store sufficient coal stocks at thermal power plants to meet the growing energy demand. Now, the farmers have been left to suffer erratic power supply as they were not getting supply even for six hours at a stretch.

While the State has been facing a serious power shortage, the Congress government had decided to give away power to be generated at the Singareni’s new thermal plant (800 megawatt), planned and sanctioned during the BRS regime. He demanded that the government cancel its agreement with Rajasthan to sell power, when Telangana itself was in need of power since the consumption had been growing rapidly.

Shortage of coal in Bhadradri and Yadadri thermal plants had curtailed power generation there. He alleged that the government was not supplying sufficient power to the agriculture sector to escape the responsibility of procuring paddy and other crops at support price.

Several Congress and BJP leaders and activists joined BRS at the meeting chaired by Narsapur MLA V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy. Mr. Harish Rao said the Congress leaders were fearing to go out and meet people in villages as they were unable to get even the village roads repaired.