Bhatti Alleges BRS Inflated Sitarama Project Cost to Rs 24,000 Crore

Nalgonda: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday alleged that the previous BRS government had redesigned irrigation projects to escalate costs and benefit contractors.

Accompanied by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, he inspected the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Scheme and Seethamma Sagar Project works in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, including the Yathakuntala tunnel in Sathupalli constituency.

Addressing officials, Bhatti alleged that the Sitarama project was redesigned by linking it with the Seethamma Sagar barrage, increasing the cost to nearly Rs 24,000 crore. He claimed that over Rs 7,500 crore was spent over seven years without completing the project.

He said the present government has initiated measures to complete the Sitarama LIS and sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the Rajiv Canal Link to connect it with the NSP Canal and Wyra Reservoir. He added that works on the Julurupadu tunnel leading to the Palair Reservoir are being expedited and that the Munneru river will be linked to fill the Palair, Wyra and Lanka Sagar reservoirs to provide irrigation in Sathupalli and surrounding areas.

Referring to the Medigadda barrage incident on October 21, 2023, Uttam Kumar Reddy said technical tests, subsurface investigations and structural safety studies of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme are underway as per recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority and the Central Water Commission.

He said the government would take decisions based on scientific assessment, with priority to safety and quality. The NDSA had raised concerns over design, construction and maintenance and advised against impounding water until investigations and rehabilitation are completed, he said, adding that institutions including IIT Bombay, AFRY India, the Central Water and Power Research Station and the National Geophysical Research Institute are involved.

“We will complete the testing and rehabilitation as quickly as possible. After the structures are certified safe, the three barrages will be brought back into operation,” he said.

Bhatti said the government aims to provide irrigation to about 1.25 lakh acres upon completion of the Seethamma Sagar–Sitarama project and will address legal issues to expedite works. He alleged that the previous government had taken up projects without required clearances, leading to legal hurdles, and had failed to complete projects despite spending ₹1.8 lakh crore.

He said works on Sitarama LIS, Seethamma Sagar and Devadula projects would be completed to provide irrigation to farmers.

Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said the Sitarama LIS would help utilise Godavari waters and provide irrigation to about 1.25 lakh acres.

MLAs Payam Venkateswarlu, Tellam Venkatrao, Koram Kanakaiah and Ramadasu Naik, along with irrigation officials, were present.