KCR to go ahead with plan

REDESIGNING OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS

To announce irrigation policy after conducting survey

• Slams previous Congress government and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for failing to fight against Maharashtra and Karnataka building projects on rivers Godavari and Krishna
• Farmers both in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh suffer as a consequence
• CM tears Opposition allegations to shreds

Karimnagar: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday made it clear that there was no question of going back on the decision to redesign pending irrigation projects in the State and Telangana State government would not sacrifice the interests of the people just because the Opposition parties criticised the decision.

Speaking to the media at District Collectorate conference hall here on Tuesday, KCR, who was on a two-day district tour programme, came down heavily on the Opposition parties for making baseless allegations without knowing facts. The growth assessment agency, Credit Rating Agency (CRA) gave ‘A’ rating for Telangana State as far as development was concerned, he informed the media.

The Chief Minister said that Maharashtra had constructed about 200 irrigation projects on the river Godavari harming the interests of the farmers in both Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh. He blamed the Opposition Congress and TDP leaders, who ruled the State for 60 years, for not raising their voice against illegal projects built by Maharashtra and Karnataka states.

Terming AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s dharna and arrest in Maharashtra against the contentious project Babli barrage as a drama, KCR questioned as to why Naidu and other Chief Ministers in the united Andhra Pradesh had not fought against the illegal projects constructed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Both the states constructed projects on Godavari, Krishna, Pravara and Manjeera rivers, he said, and added that except Indravathi and Pranahita rivers there was no water available to cater to the needs of Telangana State.

The Chief Minister charged the previous government with designing irrigation projects in such a way as to ensure that they remained in limbo. So was the case with the designs for Pranahita-Chevella, Devadula, Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), Rajiv Sagar (Dummugudem) and other projects, KCR said.

The Congress government had launched the work on Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation project without reaching an understanding with Maharastra state. The project was designed to supply water to 16 lakh acres but the storage capacity of the project was just 14 tmcft.

“How is it possible to provide water to such a vast area with a small storage capacity,” he asked and stated that he had directed the engineers to enhance the storage capacity up to 200 tmcft. It was not possible to supply water to Ranga Reddy district through Pranahita-Chevella and water would be provided to Ranga Reddy from Palamuru lift irrigation project, he said.

“I have also stated this at a public meeting at Parigi before elections,” the Chief Minister said. Dummugudem was constructed at a cost of Rs 7,500 crore at 71 metre height to draw water 170 days but they were unable to lift water not more than 70 days. Though the river was flowing throughout the year, there was no water in the project, he said.

The State government would announce its irrigation policy after the completion of survey ordered to study the details of 500 kilometre stretch of Godavari river in Telangana State. The survey, which would start within two days and would be completed by the end of this month, he hoped.