Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday alleged that the Kaleshwaram failure resulted from the previous BRS government’s decision to ignore experts and engineers while executing the irrigation project.
Bhatti Vikramarka visited the J. Chokka Rao Devadula Project in Mulugu district. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy accompanied him. Meanwhile, the ministers reviewed Godavari inflows, reservoir storage and the progress of ongoing works with irrigation officials.
Addressing the media, Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that the previous government ignored technical advice. He said it took unilateral decisions while implementing major irrigation projects. He also accused the BRS of misusing public funds.
Kaleshwaram failure dominates Devadula review
Bhatti Vikramarka said former BRS leaders had claimed they built the Kaleshwaram project using their own expertise while sidelining engineers. According to him, the barrages would not have developed problems if the project had followed technical recommendations.
Referring to the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages, he questioned why the previous government built barrages if it could lift water directly from a flowing river. Further, he alleged that poor construction caused the Medigadda piers to sink.
He said experts from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) inspected the barrages. They warned against storing water until repairs were completed. According to Bhatti Vikramarka, closing the gates could weaken the foundations and cause further damage. He said the government would keep the gates open to allow floodwaters to pass safely.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government planned to fill 22 reservoirs under the Devadula Project because of possible drought conditions linked to El Niño. Additionally, he announced ₹146 crore for the project. The allocation includes ₹58 crore for land acquisition, ₹74 crore for pending works and ₹14 crore for maintenance.
Bhatti Vikramarka said the government would operate 10 pumps under the Devadula Project continuously. He said the project would provide irrigation and drinking water to nearly 12 districts in the Godavari basin. He added that the government would provide any additional funds needed to complete the Devadula and Sitarama projects on a war footing.
గత ప్రభుత్వం ఇరిగేషన్ ప్రాజెక్టుల నిర్మాణంలో నిపుణులు, ఇంజనీర్ల సూచనలను పక్కనబెట్టి సొంత నిర్ణయాలతో ముందుకెళ్లినందువల్లే కాళేశ్వరం బ్యారేజీలు మూడేళ్లకే దెబ్బతిన్నాయి. ప్రజల సొమ్ముతో నిర్మించిన ప్రాజెక్టులను నిర్లక్ష్యంగా నిర్వహించి, ఇప్పుడు తప్పులను కప్పిపుచ్చుకునేందుకు తప్పుడు… pic.twitter.com/AZORiuyaSH
— Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu (@Bhatti_Mallu) July 13, 2026