KTR demands repairs to sagged pillars of Medigadda barrage, instead of blaming BRS

HYDERABAD: BRS MLA K Taraka Rama Rao on Wednesday condemned the Congress government for trying to defame the BRS on the issue of the Kaleshwaram project.

He said: "Congress leaders are trying to target us on the Kaleshwaram project after visiting the Medigadda barrage. Kaleshwaram is not just a barrage. It consists of three barrages, 15 reservoirs, 19 substations, 21 pump houses, 203 km tunnels, 1,531 km gravity canal, 98 km pressure mains, 141 TMC storage capacity, 530 meters height lift, and 240 TMC utilisation," he said in the Telangana Legislative Assembly.

Also Read: Congress fears KCR's public meeting, hence visiting Medigadda, says Kadiam Srihari

He said damage to 2-3 pillars was being made an issue to defame the previous BRS regime. He advised the Congress Government to repair the damaged pillars and start pumping into the Kaleshwaram project. "You might be angry with KCR for political reasons. But don't vent out your anger on the farmers," he demanded.

He also asked Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to speak the truth in the Assembly. Stating that he had much respect for Ponnam Prabhakar for his active role during the Telangana movement, he said that the minister should not ignore the facts. KTR asked Ponnam whether or not Guaravelly Reservoir in his Husnabad constituency had been completed and trial run done. Similarly, he said Malakpet Reservoir with 1 TMC capacity in the Vemulavada constituency had been completed.

He said instead of only mentioning the additional ayacut Kaleshwaram created, the stabilisation it created in the region should also be considered. He said that the Upper Maniar in his Sircilla constituency, which was constructed during Nizam's era, could be revived only after the construction of Mallanna Sagar.

Also Read: Repair Medigadda before monsoon commences, take action on culprits, says Kadiam Srihari

Similarly, the Gauravelli, Malakpet reservoir, extension and upgradation of Upper Maniar, Singur, Nizamsagar and SRSP were done only through the Kaleshwaram project.

KTR strongly objected to the remarks made by Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy against Kadiam Srihari. "Kadiam Srihari is a senior Dalit leader who had previously served as Deputy CM and minister. Derogatory remarks against such a senior Dalit leader in the House are inappropriate," he said while demanding that Rajagopal Reddy withdraw his comments or the Speaker expunge them from the records.

He said that during the Assembly proceedings, the ministers could intervene to make corrections if the opposition members spoke anything wrong or irrelevant. "The BRS is the main opposition party with 39 MLAs, and the Congress is in power with 54 MLAs. But when the Speaker is allowing the BRS MLAs to speak, it is wrong on the part of the treasury benches to interrupt. All MLAs, irrespective of their party affiliation, have equal rights in the House," he said.

However, KTR alleged that the BRS MLAs were not getting the mike while treasury bench members were being allowed to speak and interrupt whenever they wanted.