Former minister and BRS party MLA Harish Rao today clarified that it was former CM KCR’s merit that Kaleshwaram project’s water was coming to Siddipet.
Harish Rao released water to a canal leading to Bikka Banda at Choudaram village in Chinna Kodur mandal.
Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rao said as part of the Kaleshwaram project, water was released from Ranganayaka Sagar reservoir to Bikka Banda Gutta on Sunday.
He claimed that during the last year-and-a-half of Congress’ rule, not a single rupee was released for land acquisition and added that the Congress government was looking down on the Kaleshwaram project.
“There is water in Ranganayaka Sagar, Kondapochamma and Mid Manair projects. Not a single rupee was released out of factionalism. Not a single acre of new land is being acquired.
KCR has built projects and the system is ready. Pump houses, reservoirs, sub-stations, main canals, distribution canals are all ready.
All that is needed is to acquire land and dig canals and provide water to the farmers. But not a single acre of the land has been acquired under the Kaleshwaram project this year,” he alleged.
He said when all the farmers of Kondengulakunta and Bikkabanda came, they dug up canals and provided water by investing their own money and gave money to those who lost money in the land acquisition process.
“The Congress government is not working. We should work with love but it is working with factions. I spoke to State Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday too. If small canals are dug, the ayacut for the farmers will increase.
I have requested that at least 15 to 20 crore be released for the land acquisition process. A cut motion was also given in the assembly and protest was expressed. We have tried to wake up the government in all ways,” recalled Harish Rao.
He said the Kaleshwaram project was a boon for North Telangana and reminded that the Coca-Cola factory also came because of the water from the Kaleshwaram project. “The Kaleshwaram project will be very useful for farmers. We are demanding that the first and the second pillars that have collapsed be repaired without delay and water be provided. After the Congress came, the Peddavagu, Sunkishala, SLBC tunnel and Wattem projects in Khammam collapsed. Kaleshwaram is a mega project.
We are providing water to 52,000 acres in Siddipet constituency through the Kaleshwaram project. This is the merit of KCR. It is not sitting in Hyderabad and saying that Kaleshwaram has collapsed. Siddipet is not the only one, many constituencies are receiving the water,” he said. Harish Rao stated they were still demanding that the Goebbels campaign be stopped, land be acquired, canals be dug and water be provided to the farmers.