People's Government Eyes Better Use of Godavari Waters: Bhatti

He was speaking to the media after conducting a field-level inspection of the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Seethamma Sagar Multipurpose Project in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, along with Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.

He said the State government is preparing in advance with a comprehensive plan to withstand the challenges arising from global climate change and adverse conditions, and is taking rapid steps in that direction.

He recalled that three days ago, at the Sammakka Barrage backwaters of the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, all pumps were switched on to lift water to full capacity. He personally stayed there and reviewed the programme to fill 22 reservoirs covering nearly 12 districts and 17 Assembly constituencies.

He said that today they also visited the Sitarama Project, conducted a review, and issued on-the-spot instructions to accelerate the works. He stated that the Congress government's objective is to complete this project on the Godavari River in the Telangana region at the earliest and ensure water reaches the last ayacut.

He recalled that when Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister, he conducted an in-depth study with the intention of providing Godavari waters to the farmers of the district and designed the Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar projects. He also remembered that the works had commenced from this very place during that period.

He said that the Rajiv Sagar (Dummugudem) Project was planned at a cost of Rs.1,681 crore to provide irrigation to two lakh acres. Similarly, at Rudrankota, where the Godavari and Sabari rivers meet, the Indira Sagar Lift Irrigation Project was launched at a cost of Rs.1,824 crore to irrigate another two lakh acres.

Thus, the then Congress Government had designed the two projects together to provide irrigation to four lakh acres at a total cost of Rs.3,505 crore.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that before the bifurcation of the State, nearly Rs.2,000 crore had already been spent on these two projects. He alleged that although only another Rs.1,505 crore was required to complete the projects and provide water to 4 lakh acres, the KCR-led government, with a wrongful intention, redesigned them.

He said that because of this redesign, along with the Seethamma Sagar Barrage, the project cost escalated to nearly Rs.24,000 crore. He added that this resulted in an additional expenditure of about Rs.7,500 crore to Rs.8,000 crore.

He said that at that time, Uttam Kumar Reddy, as PCC President, and he himself, as Campaign Committee Chairman, had exposed this "loot" both inside and outside public meetings with detailed facts. He stated that despite repeated demands to complete the original two projects, the KCR Government stubbornly proceeded with the redesign.

He said that the people, having witnessed the misdeeds of the previous government, gave power to the Congress Party. Soon after assuming office, the entire Cabinet conducted an extensive review of these projects. Since a substantial amount had already been spent, the Cabinet decided that stopping the project would not be appropriate and resolved to continue and complete it.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that deficiencies such as the absence of distributary canals and reservoir capacity issues are being rectified. Rajiv Canal is being linked with the Sagar Canal, while programmes are being taken up to fill the Wyra and Paleru reservoirs through link canals and tunnels. He announced that works are being accelerated to take water up to Sathupalli. He further said that a monthly calendar has been prepared for completing these works and periodic reviews are being conducted to ensure timely completion.

"This is the People's Government. Not even a single rupee will be misused. We will carry forward the works already executed, prioritize them, and complete them as early as possible," the Deputy Chief Minister declared.

On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka reiterated that the Government would utilize the maximum possible water from this project, located at the tail-end of the Godavari River, and fulfil the long-cherished aspirations of the farmers of the district.