Farmers in Trouble, Govt Must Lift Water From Devadula: Harish

Hyderabad: Former minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao on Saturday accused the Congress government of deliberately denying irrigation to farmers in erstwhile Warangal district despite availability of adequate water in Godavari River.

Speaking to reporters, Harish Rao said administrative negligence had pushed large parts of the erstwhile Warangal district into an avoidable drought, and this was not caused by El Nino, but by the Congress government.

He said despite promising to pump 38 tmc ft of water from the Devadula project and fill 22 reservoirs, the government has not done so. This despite ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy visiting the Devadula lift irrigation scheme site on July 13, making that promise which in turn prompted farmers to begin transplantation of paddy.

“But till yesterday (Monday), only five pumps were functioning. Whenever ministers visit, seven pumps are switched on for display, but once they leave, only three pumps remain operational,” he alleged.

Farmers across Shayampet, Bhimadevarapally, Elkathurthy and several other parts of Warangal district were holding protests demanding irrigation water. The Sammakka barrage had water and was receiving substantial inflows from the Godavari. Despite the availability of water, he said, the government had failed to operate all the pumps under the Devadula project.

Demanding immediate corrective action, Harish Rao urged the government to operate all ten Devadula pumps, fill all 22 reservoirs, and ensure irrigation and drinking water supply to 3.17 lakh acres under the project.