Telangana Irrigation White Paper: Uttam says Annaram barrage too in danger, probe in anvil

HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has said that the sand boiling which might have caused the sagging of the piers of Medigadda was observed at Annaram Barrage in the last few days and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has advised the Government to empty the reservoir and shut down operations.

Opening up debate on the white paper submitted before the Assembly, the Minister said that project engineers immediately reported the matter to the NDSA and they advised the I&CAD Department to empty the reservoir and they would be sending their experts to examine the condition.

With the three main components of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) built following a similar plan and technology, the Minister said that all three barrages were rendered useless. “The NDSA, CAG, and the Vigilance and Enforcement departments have confirmed that no operation and maintenance work was undertaken since the inaugural of the project. We have decided to initiate an action on the people responsible for the irreparable damage to the Barrages,” he said.

Also Read: BRS surrendered Telangana's share in Krishna River to AP, alleges Uttam Kumar Reddy

“The BRS Government failed to follow the basic norms of project building. The Barrages must have been built as floating structures. Still, the Government built them as rigid strictures resulting in the damage of the very foundation of the structures,” the Irrigation Minister said. The Minister said the 50 TMC Komuravelli Mallannasagar reservoir under KLIP was built without following seismic norms.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the earlier Government had spent Rs 1.81 lakh crore from 2014-2023 on the irrigation sector by spending Rs 11.45 lakh per acre but created an ayacut of 15 lakh acres only.

“On the other hand, the earlier Governments spent Rs 54,234 crore and created an ayacut of 54,234 crore for Rs 93,000 per acre. It means that the BRS Government has spent 12 times more than what the earlier Governments did,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

Highlighting the financial burden the KLIP could exert on the State, he said that 200 million units of power would be required to operate the entire project daily. “On the other hand 196 million units will be sufficient to electrify the entire Telangana State,” he added.

Attributing the expansion of the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator from 11,000 cusecs to 44,000 cusecs and Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project by the AP Government to the negligence of the BRS Government, the Minister said that projects in south Telangana particularly the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project had been neglected. “Even after spending Rs 27,000 crore only one pump in Narlapur pumhouse was launched and the total capacity was reduced from 2 TMC to 1 TMC.” He pointed out.

He also pointed out that the earlier Governments created irritation projects from their funds whereas the BRS borrowed Rs 1,56,280 crore burdening the State exchequer immensely.

Contempt case against AP

The Irrigation Minister announced that the Telangana Government decided to file a contempt court against the AP for violating the National Green Tribunal’s directions. “AP is continuing project work at night. We have to stop that. The BRS Government failed to impress the Central Government to set up new terms of reference for KWDT. If the Rayalaseema project is completed, AP will take away 10 TMC of Krishna water,

Priorities

• Complete ongoing projects

• Priority to new ayacut

• Kalkurty, Bhima, Dindi, Nettempadu, Chinna Kaleshwaram, Mid Manair, Indira tailpond Komuram Bhim under fast track

• Central funds for PRLIS

• Achieve a fair share of River water for Telangana