Hyderabad: TPCC on Wednesday described Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s redesigning of irrigation projects as one the biggest scam in the country, aimed at looting thousands of crore of public money. “KCR is a liar and making bogus claims. Every person in Telangana should get drinking water and for irrigation, but we will not allow loot of public money. Existing irrigation projects and water supply to Hyderabad city is only due to Congress efforts,” N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, TPCC president said.
Mr Reddy, along with party spokesman Sravan Dasoju made a detailed PowerPoint presentation on Wednesday. Mr Reddy reeled out data on completed and pending projects and said there was no need to redesign projects as this will cause more harm than good. “KCR said the total area under irrigation in 1956 was 19 lakh acres and showed similar figure in 2016, indicating not one additional acre was brought under cultivation. The total area brought under irrigation from 1956 to 2004 was 47 lakh acres and from 2004 to 2014 it was 51.47 lakh acres, totalling 98.47 lakh acres. Irrigation is now required for just 12.53 lakh acres. For a mere 12.53 lakh acres, KCR plans to spend Rs 1.50 lakh-crore. Is it justified? Is it not a looting? Will he increase land area,” he asked.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy and others were present. Mr Sravan questioned increase in the Kaleswaram project cost from Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 83,000 crore, Palamur-Ranga Reddy project from Rs 35,200 crore to Rs 50,945 crore without DPR and before work has begun. “Congress has said that by spending this Rs 8,971.28 crore, several pending projects could be completed in Mahbubnagar and other districts, but the CM has ignored us for obvious reasons,” he said.
“Some are 95 per cent complete. Though Rs 25,000 crore is earmarked in the Budget for new projects, there is nothing for the pending projects. Why?” Mr Sravan asked. He alleged that the CM took Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a ride by launching water in Gajwel from pipeline linked to Yellampally reservoir built by Congress. “We brought Krishna and Godavari waters to Hyderabad city, but KCR and KTR claim credit,” he alleged. He also questioned the CM’s dumping national project status for Pranahita-Chevella and pitching for Kaleshwaram.
