· Minister Uttam reviews irrigation projects, warns contractors of strict action for delays
· Uttam pays tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary
Hyderabad, May 21: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday vowed that the Congress government would fight to secure a fair share of Krishna river waters for Telangana, correcting what he called a “historic betrayal” by the previous BRS regime.
“The BRS government surrendered Telangana’s rights by accepting just 299 TMC out of the total 811 TMC Krishna river allocation, leaving 512 TMC to Andhra Pradesh – and that too in writing. It was not a negotiation; it was a sellout,” Uttam said, addressing the media in Chintalapalem mandal of Suryapet district.
He declared that the Congress government has reversed this approach and is now firmly defending Telangana’s claims. “We have reopened the issue before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal and are demanding a 70:30 ratio – 70% for Telangana and 30% for Andhra Pradesh – based on catchment area, cultivable land, drought-prone zones and population,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy added that he is the only Irrigation Minister in the country to personally attend the state’s case in the water tribunal. “Our government is committed to correcting every wrong committed by the BRS,” he said.
He said the goal is to green the drought-hit districts of the former Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, and Khammam regions by fully utilising Krishna waters through targeted irrigation projects.
Rs. 62,000 crore wasted on Kaleshwaram – Telangana could’ve had 10 working projects, not three failed barrages
Slamming the BRS government’s irrigation legacy, Uttam called the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project a historic blunder that drained ₹1 lakh crore from the state exchequer while neglecting the real irrigation needs of Telangana.
“If the previous government had stuck to the original Pranahita-Chevella project designed by the Congress at an estimated cost of ₹38,000 crore, Telangana could’ve completed at least 10 major irrigation projects. Instead, ₹62,000 crore was wasted on a single project that ended in structural failure and financial disaster,” he said.
He accused the BRS of dismantling the Pranahita-Chevella blueprint prepared under former Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, which aimed to bring both Krishna and Godavari waters to the state in an efficient, cost-effective manner. “They abandoned that vision and built Kaleshwaram at Medigadda for political optics. The result? Three collapsed barrages and no benefit to farmers,” he said.
Uttam alleged that Kaleshwaram became a vehicle for massive corruption. “This wasn’t irrigation; it was inflation. A ₹38,000 crore plan was inflated to ₹1 lakh crore. Now we are left with a non-functional project and irreversible financial loss,” he said.
Krishna basin projects could have transformed Telangana
The Minister said that with the ₹62,000 crore wasted on Kaleshwaram, the government could have completed Palamuru-Rangareddy, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, Koilsagar, Dindi, Devadula, Sitarama Sagar, SLBC tunnel, and other long-pending projects.
“Instead of building a robust irrigation network, the BRS government chose to build a monument of waste. We could have ensured water for southern Telangana, completed multiple lift schemes, and solved the irrigation crisis permanently. But Kaleshwaram ate it all,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy informed that the Congress government, under CM Revanth Reddy, has now taken up the revival and completion of all Krishna river basin projects. A four-hour review was recently held by the Chief Minister himself, and funds are being allocated to ensure time-bound completion.
He emphasised that the state is now focused on functional infrastructure, not inflated showpieces. “Our priority is infrastructure that works, not failed monuments. We’re moving with planning, funding, execution – not slogans,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted that Telangana has achieved a record 281 lakh tonnes of paddy production within a year of Congress taking charge – the highest in the country – due to pro-farmer policies.
Later, Uttam held a review meeting with senior officials and contractors on ongoing lift irrigation projects. He directed them to submit firm deadlines and warned of penalties for delays.
He appealed to local communities and elected representatives to assist in land acquisition and on-ground coordination, saying, “These works are for collective benefit and public cooperation is essential.”
Key projects under execution include the Rajiv Gandhi Lift Irrigation Scheme aims to irrigate 14,100 acres with a project cost of ₹394.10 crore. The Muktyala Branch Canal Lift Scheme has been designed to cover 53,000 acres at an outlay of ₹1,450 crore. It includes four 16 MW pumps and will benefit 19,295 families across 23 villages in three mandals.
Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi
The Minister also announced that the Dondapadu-2 Lift Irrigation Scheme would be named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He made the announcement on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary on Wednesday, which is observed as Balidan Diwas. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with other Congress leaders, garlanded the statue of Rajiv Gandhi in Huzurnagar constituency. (Maxim News)
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