Hyderabad: Irrigation projects operations came under criticism from former minister and BRS deputy floor leader Harish Rao, who alleged irregular handling of motors in major lift irrigation schemes and wrote an open letter to Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
He raised concerns over the frequent switching on and off of heavy motors in Kaleshwaram and Devadula projects. According to him, such practices violated engineering norms and could damage critical equipment.
Harish Rao warned that repeated operation changes could cause vibrations and lead to failure of pumps, impellers, and motors. He also questioned whether the actions were deliberate attempts to damage equipment and shift blame onto the previous BRS government. Further, he asked if the issue reflected administrative negligence or a planned move.
Irrigation projects operations raise risks to equipment and public investment
The former minister stated that the motors were designed for continuous operation and not for repeated stoppages. Therefore, interruptions in functioning would inevitably lead to technical damage. He criticised the handling of projects built with thousands of crores of public funds, calling it irresponsible.
In particular, he pointed to Chandlapur and packages 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12, where he said the operational pattern was objectionable. He urged the government to immediately stop such unscientific practices and ensure adherence to engineering standards.
Authorities, he said, must operate pumps continuously as per design specifications. Moreover, he cautioned against politicising irrigation systems, stating that such projects are vital for farmers in Telangana.