BRS flays govt. for neglect of irrigation structures’ repairs, maintenance

HYDERABAD

Working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K.T. Rama Rao and senior leader of the party T. Harish Rao have criticised the Congress government for its neglect of the irrigation sector, particularly the maintenance of existing projects, and accused it of pushing the sector into a crisis on one hand and taking up new projects.

Suggesting the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to wake up to the reality at least now following a series of incidents related to maintenance of projects, stop misinformation campaign on the Medigadda Barrage of Kaleshwaram project and focus on its repair to bring it back into use and maintenance of other projects, Mr. Harish Rao said on Friday that several incidents related to projects’ safety had been taking place for over 18 months.

Citing the series of incidents, he explained that Peddavagu had washed away, retaining wall of Sunkishala had collapsed, Vattem pump-house of Palamuru-Rangareddy project was flooded, Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel had collapsed, ropes of a Jurala project crest gate had snapped, and the apron of Manjira barrage had washed away developing cracks in piers.

However, they were not visible to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy who had spared no time in writing to NDSA after the Medigadda incidents were keeping silent over the incidents taking place in the Congress rule, Mr. Harish Rao said. He sought to know who was responsible for the incidents involving the projects since Congress took over.

Separately, Mr. Rama Rao said a team of State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) had visited Manjira barrage on March 22 but the State government had kept the report in the cold storage. Not taking up repairs on Medigadda and Manjira barrages was an indication of the government neglect of the irrigation structures.

Manjira barrage

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja stated on Friday that Manjira barrage was safe and there were no cracks in piers. The government had allocated ₹3.5 crore for its repairs and works would be taken up after the study of the SDSO report. He visited the barrage on Friday along with officials of the Sangareddy district and Hyderabad Metro Water Works.