Congress MP slams government over Maharashtra pact

Nalgonda: The Congress MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy lashed out at the TRS government for entering into agreements with Maharashtra government on construction of barrages on Godavari River without holding discussions with the Opposition parties. Speaking at a media conference in the town on Tuesday, Sukhender Reddy said that the State government should have conducted a meeting with leaders of all the political parties and taken their suggestions before signing the agreement with Maharashtra.

Though a mere 1,800 acres of land was submerged in Maharashtra for Pranahita-Chevella and Thummalashetti irrigation projects, Maharashtra government has raised strong objections on the construction of the projects. The Congress MP strongly criticised the Telangana government for accepting the demand of Maharashtra government for the reduction of the height of the irrigation projects at the cost of farmers’ interests.

Even though two years have already been completed after issuance of tenders for the Baswapur major reservoir, the works were still pending. He pointed out that Baswapur reservoir, which was planned to provide irrigation to over two lakh acres in Chityal, Ramannapet, Alair and Thundathurthy mandals, was the 16th package of Pranahita-Chevella project.

The Nalgonda MP alleged that the State government was showing negligence in taking up drought mitigation measures as the crops of the farmers were withering away and villages were facing scarcity of drinking water. He urged the State government to release water to the left canal of Nagarjuna Sagar Project and fill the tanks in the district that would help in solving drinking water problem to some extent.