‘Kaleshwaram project did not create additional ayacut’

Former PCC chief and senior chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah has stated that the Social Economic Outlook 2021 report had clearly indicated that no new ayacut was generated beneath the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project opposite to the claims of the federal government.

At a press convention right here, he stated the federal government may carry simply 30 TMC ft to Medigadda beneath Kaleshwaram project since June 10 although it has been claiming that it has been pumping 3 TMC ft per day. And solely 11 TMC ft of this has reached Lower Maneru Dam (LMD). But Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has claimed in Sircilla assembly that 55 lakh acres had been getting irrigated. “Why is the government lying on this,” he requested.

Mr. Lakshmaiah stated even the water lifted beneath Kaleshwaram would in the end go into the ocean since there was sufficient accessible now as a result of rains. Terming Kaleshwaram project as a burden on Telangana’s funds and not bringing an additional acre beneath cultivation, he stated the Chief Minister has been deceptive individuals by propaganda. “I have been asking him for a debate on this project and its utility but there is no response so far. I will prove them wrong,” he stated.

Mr. Lakshmaiah, who was the irrigation minister within the Congress rule, stated additional drawing of water from Pothireddypadu was enhanced as per the tribunal and to totally utilise the flood waters of Krishna river. “Apart from Pothireddypadu, Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi, Galeru Nagari, Veligodu in the present Andhra Pradesh, and Koilsagar, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bheema and SLBC in Telangana were taken up to utilise water share of then Andhra Pradesh. These projects were taken up avoiding conflicts between the regions,” he noticed.

He alleged that the Chief Minister was now raking up sentiments as soon as once more after allowing A.P. authorities to go forward with the tasks, and challenged KCR for a debate on the all of the irrigation tasks.