Hyderabad: Refuting chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s allegations on BRS govt regarding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), former irrigation minister T Harish Rao asked the Congress govt to hand over irrigation department to him for three months, saying he will quit the politics if he fails to provide water to farmers.Giving a power point presentation on Kaleshwaram project at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Harish Rao rejected Revanth Reddy’s claim that approvals for the Tummidihatti project had been secured during the Congress regime. He said neither the then Congress govts in Maharashtra, AP nor at the Centre had secured approvals for the project despite being in power for several years.Recalling his tenure as irrigation minister, Harish Rao said Maharashtra had categorically refused permission for the project at 152 metres, even after repeated discussions involving then CM K Chandrashekar Rao and senior leaders. He further stated that the Central Water Commission (CWC) had officially informed the govt that only 102 tmcft of water was available at Tummidihatti against the proposed 160 tmcft.“If the CM can produce even a single official letter showing that Maharashtra approved the Tummidihatti project at 152 metres, I will immediately resign as MLA. Otherwise, Revanth Reddy should tender an apology to the people of Telangana for misleading them,” he added.The BRS deputy leader alleged that the state govt was allowing precious Godavari waters to flow into the sea while farmers across Telangana faced drought-like conditions.“Despite nearly one lakh cusecs of floodwater flowing in the Godavari at the Sammakka barrage, the Congress govt was lifting only 2,542 cusecs through the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme. Why the Congress govt is not operating the pumps at full capacity despite sufficient water availability? The water level at Sammakka barrage is well above the operational requirement for Devadula pumps. The barrage has not collapsed and the infrastructure exists. Then why are the pumps not being switched on?” he asked.He alleged that this amounted to “criminal negligence” and accused the govt of deliberately denying irrigation water to farmers. The ex-minister said nearly 75% to 80% of tanks in the undivided Warangal district have dried up, despite abundant Godavari flows. Harish challenged the govt to hold a special assembly discussion on the Sammakka barrage and irrigation management.‘KLIP built only after scientific studies’Harish Rao dismissed allegations against KLIP and said the project was designed only after detailed technical studies. He stated that the CWC, WAPCOS, retired engineering experts and 18 Central govt agencies had examined and approved various aspects of the project.The BRS leader said the Congress govt had been in office for nearly 31 months but had not completed even the required technical tests or initiated repair works at Medigadda. He said that nearly 7.5 tmcft of water was currently available at Medigadda and questioned why the Kannepalli pumps had not been switched on.
