Hyderabad, June 5: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday alleged that leaders of the previous BRS government collected huge commissions in the name of irrigation projects while failing to deliver water benefits to farmers.
Addressing a public meeting during his tour of the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district, Revanth Reddy criticized the previous administration’s handling of major irrigation projects and accused it of neglecting the region’s development needs.
Revanth Reddy Targets BRS Over Palamuru Projects
The Chief Minister said Telangana was formed when K. Chandrashekar Rao represented Mahabubnagar in Parliament, but alleged that the district did not receive adequate attention during the BRS government’s tenure.
Revanth Reddy claimed that the previous government spent nearly Rs. 1.81 lakh crore on irrigation projects, including around Rs. 1 lakh crore on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. He alleged that the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme was neglected despite its potential to provide irrigation water to 26 lakh acres.
According to the Chief Minister, approximately Rs. 27,000 crore was spent on the project, but key works remained incomplete. He alleged that substantial expenditure was incurred on pumps and lift infrastructure without achieving the intended irrigation benefits.
Revanth Reddy also said his government continues to repay loans taken for irrigation projects during the previous administration. He stated that more than Rs. 52,000 crore had been paid towards principal and interest over the past 30 months.
The Chief Minister further alleged that several projects were left incomplete without proper land acquisition. He questioned how reservoirs could be filled without completing land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) measures.
He said the government was preparing plans every six months to expedite pending irrigation works and complete the projects. Revanth Reddy added that land acquisition for the projects would be completed soon and urged the opposition not to obstruct the process.
The BRS has repeatedly defended its irrigation initiatives and rejected allegations regarding project execution and expenditure.
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