Telangana CM hits out at BRS for ‘corruption’ in irrigation projects
Hyderabad, June 5 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday slammed the previous BRS government for not completing the prestigious Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation project and alleged that it swindled public money through commission by taking up the works of only pump sets and lifts during its 10-year rule.
He declared that his government is committed to completing all irrigation projects to meet the irrigation and drinking water needs of the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.
After inspecting various ongoing projects and a review of their progress for the second consecutive day, the Chief Minister declared that the ‘people’s government’ would complete the project in two years.
He directed officials to expedite the works without compromising the quality, and appealed to the people to support the government in expediting land acquisition
Accompanied by ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, Vakiti Srihari and top officials, the Chief Minister visited various irrigation projects.
He blamed the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for failing to complete the projects in Palamuru (Mahabubnagar). He said it was hoped that the Palamuru projects would be completed once Telangana was formed.
The Chief Minister slammed his predecessor, K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and alleged corruption in the construction of projects during his rule.
He said during KCR’s 10-year tenure, Rs 1.81 lakh crore was spent on irrigation project works. Of that amount, 1 lakh crore was spent solely on the Kaleshwaram project.
The crucial Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, which has the potential to supply 90 TMC of water, was neglected, he said.
“Had the Palamuru-Rangareddy project been completed alongside the Jurala, Bhima, Nettempadu, Koilsagar, Kalwakurthy, and other projects, it would have been possible to provide irrigation water to an ayacut of 26 lakh acres in this district,” the Chief Minister said.
CM Revanth Reddy said that KCR spent Rs 27,000 crore on the Palamuru lift irrigation scheme alone. “Thousands of crores were spent merely on pumps and lifts to amass commissions. They abandoned the works midway without providing water to even a single acre,” he said.
Stating that to complete any project, the very first step required is land acquisition, he claimed that no land acquisition was carried out for any project undertaken in the district.
“How did KCR expect the projects to be completed without finishing land acquisition? His thoughts were constantly focused on pumps, lifts, and pocketing commissions by clearing contractor bills worth thousands of crores,” he said.
CM Revant Reddy claimed that the debt KCR incurred for irrigation projects during his tenure was Rs 84,503 crore. The Congress government cleared Rs 52,120 crore in just 30 months. “We paid only Rs 22,000 crore to contractors during those 30 months and spent Rs 8,000 crore on the Palamuru project. Land acquisition for about 4,000 acres related to the projects is still pending,” the CM said.
The Chief Minister ridiculed the BRS leaders’ claim that 90 per cent of the Palamuru project workers were completed during their rule. “How can 90 per cent of the work be finished without even 50 per cent of the estimated budget being spent?” he asked.
He stated that despite facing financial challenges, the government is working with composure and determination. “BRS leaders looted everything and are now trying to paint us as the guilty. My visit is aimed at completing the Palamuru district projects on a war footing. History will not forgive us if we fail to complete the project,” CM Revanth Reddy said.
He also took a dig at the BRS leader’s plan to embark on a Padayatra and suggested the leader undertake a yatra to Kashi to get rid of the sins committed during the 10-year BRS rule.
–IANS
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