KTR Demands Immediate Restart of Kaleshwaram Pumps, Alleges Delay in Medigadda Repairs
BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) on Monday accused the Telangana government of deliberately delaying repairs to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and failing to utilise available water for irrigation. Addressing the media after visiting the Kannepalli Pump House, KTR alleged that the Congress government had prevented repair work at the Medigadda barrage despite an offer from the construction company to undertake the work.
KTR claimed that the government's approach was harming farmers by leaving irrigation infrastructure idle at a time when water could be lifted to reservoirs. He urged the state administration to immediately restart operations at the Kannepalli Pump House and utilise the available water for agricultural needs.
KTR questions delay in Medigadda repair work
Referring to the Medigadda barrage, KTR said that out of its 370 pillars, only two had subsided. He alleged that there were still doubts within the BRS over how the damage occurred, claiming the incident took place before the Assembly elections and was intended to tarnish the image of former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
He further stated that rebuilding the affected block containing the two pillars would cost around Rs 400 crore. According to KTR, engineering firm L&T had expressed its willingness to bear the entire repair cost, but the Congress government had not permitted the company to carry out the work even after 31 months.
Claims on irrigation and water availability
KTR described the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project as a major asset for Telangana and alleged that the present government was failing to make use of its infrastructure.
He claimed that nearly one lakh cusecs of water was flowing near the Kannepalli Pump House and asserted that if the motors were switched on, reservoirs across the state could be filled within a week.
According to KTR, the government was avoiding lifting irrigation water because doing so would require it to support farmers through the supply of fertilisers, electricity, crop procurement and financial assistance.
He alleged that the administration had failed to provide adequate support for agriculture, including the supply of urea, electricity for cultivation, minimum support prices, financial assistance to farmers and bonus payments for crops.
Challenges government over repair decision
Questioning the government's refusal to allow repairs, KTR asked why L&T's reported offer to repair the damaged portion of the barrage free of cost had not been accepted.
Drawing a comparison with the SLBC tunnel collapse, he also alleged that the response to the Medigadda incident had been disproportionate. He claimed that while the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) did not intervene following the SLBC collapse, extensive attention had been given to the subsidence of two pillars at the Kaleshwaram project.
KTR also used an analogy to defend the project, asking whether an entire house would be set on fire simply because rats were found inside it, arguing that isolated damage should not lead to the abandonment of the entire irrigation system.
Warns of protest if pumps remain idle
The BRS leader warned that if the state government continued to keep the Kannepalli Pump House non-operational, the party would organise a large-scale protest.
He said the BRS would mobilise 50,000 to 60,000 people to lay siege to the Kannepalli Pump House and claimed that party workers would switch on the pumps themselves if the government failed to act.
The Telangana government had not responded to KTR's allegations at the time of his remarks.