Hyderabad: BRS leader and former Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy accepted Minister Jupally Krishna Rao’s challenge over the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project on Thursday. He asserted that removing part of the Tundu dam obstruction would allow water to reach three reservoirs through gravity flow.
Niranjan Reddy made the remarks after inspecting the Tundu dam near Kudikilla in Nagarkurnool district alongside former MLA Beeram Harshavardhan Reddy. He said water had already reached the dam but could not move further because of the existing obstruction.
According to him, removing the dam gates would allow water to continue flowing downstream. He also challenged those questioning the duration of water flow to obtain a technical estimate.
Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project capacity highlighted
Niranjan Reddy recalled the infrastructure developed during the previous BRS government for the irrigation scheme. He said the administration had constructed five reservoirs with a combined storage capacity of 70 thousand million cubic feet (TMC).
Additionally, the government had acquired 27,000 acres of land for the project. He claimed that surge pools, pump houses, motors and power transmission lines had been completed. According to the former Minister, the government spent Rs 35,000 crore on these works.
He also said engineers had excavated 31 kilometres of twin tunnels as part of the irrigation scheme. Niranjan Reddy maintained that the completed infrastructure demonstrated the project’s capacity to transfer water to the reservoirs.
BRS challenges Congress to transfer water
Niranjan Reddy asserted that the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project could deliver water to its reservoirs using the existing infrastructure. He challenged the Congress government to complete the water transfer.
Furthermore, he said the government should hand over the project to the BRS if it could not accomplish the task. Expressing confidence in the scheme, he made a strong personal declaration about its operational feasibility.
He vowed that he would cut his tongue and never discuss the issue again if water could not be transferred. The former Minister maintained that the irrigation infrastructure was capable of supporting the proposed water movement.
Niranjan Reddy responds to Jupally Krishna Rao
Accepting the challenge issued by Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Niranjan Reddy referred to the technical requirements for releasing water. He said removing a sufficient portion of the dam obstruction, equivalent to the capacity of two pumps, would permit gravity flow.
According to him, water could then reach the Edula, Wattem and Karvena reservoirs. He argued that the proposal should be assessed based on technical considerations rather than political statements.
Meanwhile, he urged Jupally Krishna Rao to avoid making what he described as rash remarks about the project. Instead, he asked the Minister to concentrate on ensuring irrigation water reached farmers.
Niranjan Reddy reiterated that the existing infrastructure could support water transfers under the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme. He maintained that the government should prioritise supplying water to farmers rather than prolonging the dispute over the project’s capabilities.