Telangana: Bhatti Hits Back KTR Over Drought Remarks; Asks About Medigadda Fiasco

Addressing a press conference in Hanamkonda, Bhatti said it is surprising that KTR, who has studied in the United States and served as a minister for a decade, is exhibiting lack of basic knowledge about the El Nino’s weather patterns.

The Deputy CM explained that the drought-like conditions are the result of global climatic changes triggered by El Nino in the Pacific Ocean. This has led to below-normal rainfall across several parts of India. It is not because of any decision taken by the present state government.

Bhatti said the opposition should function responsibly by offering constructive suggestions on the government's measures to tackle the situation, instead of making politically motivated allegations that could mislead the public.

He accused BRS leaders of spreading misinformation against the government through media outlets sympathetic to the party. Targeting the former Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, the deputy Chief minister questioned why the Medigadda barrage, built under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project at an estimated cost of nearly ₹1 lakh crore, developed structural problems and subsided within just three years of its completion.

He contrasted the Medigadda barrage with projects constructed during previous Congress governments, stating that the Sripada Yellampalli Project on the Godavari River and the Sriram Sagar Project, built more than six decades ago are continuing to function effectively and provide irrigation to lakhs of acres without major structural issues.

Bhatti said people should compare the quality and durability of irrigation projects built during the Congress regime with the condition of the Medigadda barrage constructed during the rule of the previous BRS government.

Those present at the press conference included ministers Konda Surekha and Ponnam Prabhakar, apart from MLAs Naini Rajender Reddy and K.R. Nagaraju