Hyderabad: In a sharp rebuke, Irrigation Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy criticized the BRS party for spreading false information about the Kaleshwaram project. Speaking at a press conference at Jal Soudha, Reddy dismissed the demands made by BRS Working President K. Tarakarama Rao (KTR) to fill the Kaleshwaram reservoirs by starting pumping operations at the Kannepalli Lakshmi Pump House. He argued that KTR’s suggestions were technically flawed and revealed a lack of understanding of the current situation.
Reddy emphasized that initiating pumping at Kannepalli would be baseless as the water would need to be released to the Annaram barrage, where all gates are currently open under the National Dam Safety Authority’s (NDSA) instructions. The Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, which suffered extensive damage during the BRS regime, are undergoing repairs as per NDSA guidelines. He asserted that KTR’s statements were attempts to gain publicity without technical merit.
Citing the NDSA’s May 1 report, Reddy highlighted several critical issues and immediate measures needed to prevent further damage to the Kaleshwaram project’s structures. Key recommendations included keeping all gates of the Medigadda Barrage in a free-flow state, completing necessary repairs, conducting comprehensive geophysical and geotechnical tests, and removing the first four rows of downstream concrete blocks while properly compacting the riverbed.
Reddy warned that storing water at Medigadda could risk the total collapse of the barrage, potentially causing significant loss of life and property, damaging other projects along the route, and inundating about 44 villages, including affecting Bhadrachalam town. He stressed that the State government would follow NDSA’s expert recommendations and not KTR’s misleading claims, comparing KTR’s tactics to those of Joseph Goebbels in spreading false propaganda against the Congress party.
Reddy announced that pumping at Yellampally Dam would begin shortly, utilizing 100% of its capacity. He assured that sufficient water would be reserved to meet Hyderabad’s drinking water needs.
The Irrigation Minister accused the previous BRS government, led by Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), of gross mismanagement and corruption in executing the Kaleshwaram project. He contrasted it with the Pranahita Chevella project, noting that Pranahita Chevella involved a single barrage, leading to lower costs and simpler environmental and social impact assessments. In contrast, Kaleshwaram’s three-barrage system led to significantly higher costs, with expenditures around Rs 1,47,427 crores compared to Rs 38,500 crores for Pranahita Chevella, and only a marginal increase in irrigated land area.
Reddy pointed out that Kaleshwaram required 100% water lifting through multiple stages, resulting in high operational costs with annual power bills projected at Rs 10,375 crores. He also highlighted the more straightforward implementation and lower risks of Pranahita Chevella compared to the technical challenges and structural issues faced by Kaleshwaram, including the sinking of piers at the Medigadda Barrage.
Reddy accused KCR’s government of disregarding expert opinions, leading to a one-man show where even Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) were not followed. He claimed that the Kaleshwaram project failed to deliver promised benefits and became a financial burden on the state, with projected annual maintenance costs around Rs 15,000 crore.
To address these issues, the Congress government initiated a judicial inquiry into the alleged irregularities and embezzlement of funds related to the Kaleshwaram project. Led by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, a former Supreme Court Judge, the inquiry aims to identify the root causes of the structural issues and hold those responsible accountable.
Reddy expressed the Congress government’s commitment to transparency and accountability. He criticized the previous BRS government for not allowing Congress leaders to visit the Kaleshwaram project, while BRS leaders frequented the barrages without restrictions. He accused BRS of treating Kaleshwaram like a “picnic spot” instead of addressing their previous actions.
The Irrigation Minister assured that the Congress government was committed to protecting public assets and ensuring the safety of the Kaleshwaram project by following NDSA’s recommendations. He urged the people of Telangana to be aware of the facts about Kaleshwaram and criticized BRS for wasting resources and mishandling the project during their tenure. Reddy reiterated the Congress government’s focus on salvaging the project and preventing further waste of public money.
