Harish Rao accuses Congress of misleading public on KCR's role in Sitarama Project

HYDERABAD: Former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has challenged Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to publicly declare that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao should not be credited with building the Sitarama project. He reminded Nageswara Rao of his previous statement acknowledging the project as his dream, which was realised by KCR.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, Harish Rao criticised the Congress party for attempting to claim credit for KCR's achievements despite earlier threats to erase his legacy. He saw this as a moral victory for the BRS party, exposing the Congress's lack of accomplishments in the past eight months.

Harish Rao pointed out that the Congress had opposed the Sitarama project during its initial stages, even filing court cases against it. He contrasted this with Nageswara Rao's earlier stance, in which he had described the project as his life's dream and aspiration during the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

He emphasised that the Sitarama project was KCR's vision due to his foresight and commitment to the state's development. He criticised the previous Congress government for neglecting certain regions in projects like Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar, leading to limited agricultural output.

Harish Rao highlighted KCR's vision behind the Sitarama project, which aimed to transform Khammam district into a two-crop region by utilising Godavari water to supplement the Krishna basin. He explained that the project, with a capacity of 9,000 cusecs, was designed to provide irrigation to every acre of land in Khammam.

He refuted the Congress's claims of completing the project, stating that 90% of the work, including the installation of pumps, motors, and substations, was completed during the BRS tenure. He cautioned the Congress against attributing the project's success to themselves, reminding them that it was named after Lord Rama, a symbol of truth and righteousness.

Harish Rao urged the Congress to refrain from misleading the public and acknowledge the BRS government's role in the project's completion. He emphasised that while the BRS had no objections to Congress taking credit for their achievements, they should refrain from appropriating the accomplishments of others.