KCR: Ex-CMs neglected irrigation projects in Telangana

Mr Rao attributed poor growth of state to the regimes of the Congress and Telugu Desam. The projects conceived by the then chief ministers of the two parties were confined to papers. For instance, Srisailam Left Bank Canal and Pranahita-Chevella irrigation projects failed to take off even after so many years. Many projects were not erected because these chief ministers wanted to fill up Dowlaiswaram near Rajahumundry of Andhra Pradesh, he charged.

The chief minister further alleged that Rs 7,500 crore out of the estimated cost of Rs 8,000 crore with regard to Devadula lift irrigation project was swindled by the contractors by buying electric motors. He remarked that Rs 720 crore was spent for purchasing pipes and thus to get commissions from executing agencies even before constructing intake wells and canals, he flayed.

“Noticeably, during the regime of the Congress, 200 irrigation projects were erected by Maharashtra state across river Godavari and its tributaries. And, 100 projects were built along river Krishna and its tributaries by Karnataka at the time N. Chandrababu Naidu’s nine-year tenure. Consequently, Telang-ana is facing starvation of water. Later, the TD played a drama by staging dharnas against construction of Babli project,” he ridiculed.

When Telangana movement was at it peak, the then Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy submitted a report to the Union government, stating that 1,280 tmc of water was being supplied to the state. But, that is false. The two parties did not join the Telangana movement. Now, they are constantly criticising the government and creating confusion among public, he regretted.