Uttam Kumar Reddy Slams BRS, AP Over 'Illegal' Polavaram-Banakacharla Project

Hyderabad:Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday dismissed allegations leveled by the BRS that the Congress government was doing nothing to stop Andhra Pradesh going ahead with the Polavaram(Godavari)-Banakacharla link project, adding that he also condemned the claim of AP minister Nara Lokesh who said that his state will go ahead with the project.

“There is no way the project, which is illegal, can go on, or will be allowed to go on. Our government has made a strong case against the project and that is why all central agencies sent back AP’s pre-feasibility report on the project saying unless unresolved issues on river water sharing are sorted out, they will not take a look at it. This action was a result of scientific, systematic and logical presentation of Telangana’s stand against the project,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said during an informal chat with reporters.

“Even Lokesh’s comments on the project are unwarranted given that it cannot be taken up. It is just posturing. I advise the BRS too stop spreading lies. Every rejection of the project by central agencies was based on letters I wrote to the Centre and the central agencies pointing out its illegalities,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

“We in the Telangana government are ready to go to any extent to stop AP and its Banakacharla project plans. Just because the ruling party there is in alliance with the ruling party at the Centre and if AP believes that it can get away doing whatever it pleases, then it will be proved wrong,” the Telangana irrigation minister said.