Revanth challenges KCR for debate on Kaleshwaram, El Niño and Godavari waters in the special Assembly session

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy challenged BRS president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to participate in a two-day discussion in the Assembly in December on the Kaleshwaram project, Godavari waters and the anticipated El Niño impact.

Interacting with progressive farmers and agricultural scientists after inaugurating the Mega Rythu Mela and Industrial Expo at Hakimpet village in Dudyala mandal of Vikarabad district, Mr. Reddy appealed to Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar to allow the discussion and said Mr. Rao and his family members should attend so that the facts surrounding the irrigation projects and their implementation could be brought out.

Accusing the previous BRS government of failing to complete even one major irrigation project in undivided Mahabubnagar district during its 10-year tenure, he said people had expected the completion of the Kalwakurthy, Bhima, Nettampadu, Koilsagar and Makthal-Narayanpet-Kodangal lift irrigation projects. Had the Congress formed the government in 2014, these projects would have been completed and the aspirations of the region’s people fulfilled, he claimed.

Mr. Reddy alleged that the previous government had neglected drinking and irrigation water requirements in the region while prioritising the Kaleshwaram project over the Pranahita project, despite the Centre’s offer to accord national project status to the latter.

The Chief Minister said then Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao was reluctant to discuss Medigadda while he claimed himself as ‘Kaleshwar Rao’ claiming himself as the man behind its completion. “After it collapsed he is not even mentioning Medigadda,” charged Mr. Reddy

He also accused Mr. Rao of approaching Prime Minister Narendra Modi to delay the CBI investigation ordered by the State government into the alleged irregularities.

Responding to criticism over the functioning of the Kaleshwaram project and demands to operate the Kannnepalli pump houses, the Chief Minister questioned the purpose of constructing Medigadda if water could be lifted through the pumps independently.

Mr. Reddy also accused the previous government of obstructing development in Kodangal, but the Congress government had expedited the Makthal-Narayanpet lift irrigation project with farmers affected by land acquisition being paid compensation of ₹20 lakh an acre, against less than ₹2 lakh offered by Mr. Rao government.

Drawing a comparison with the development of industrial corridors between Delhi and Noida and Mumbai and Pune, he said the government would develop the Kodangal stretch from Hyderabad airport on similar models.

The Chief Minister also cautioned farmers about the possibility of an El Niño-induced drought and advised them to take up short-duration and less water-intensive crops instead of water-intensive cultivation. He urged farmers not to be influenced by political statements.

He announced that he would visit every village after Sankranti as part of the proposed ‘Praja Bala’ programme to interact with people and address their problems. Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao, D. Sridhar Babu and Damodar Rajanarsimha, besides several MLAs and MLCs, attended.

Later the Chief Minister virtually unveiled four proposed development initiatives near the Regional Ring Road in Kodangal region, including the Rural Agriculture Region Economy (RARE) Industrial Hub, Network of Apparel Readiness and Infrastructure(NARI) Park, Regional Industries and Small Enterprises (THRIVE Hub and RISE).