Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao demanded immediate Medigadda repairs, warning that Telangana could face a serious drought threat next year due to the El Niño effect.
Speaking to the media at his Siddipet camp office on Saturday, Harish Rao accused the Congress government of neglecting Telangana’s irrigation interests. He said the government had failed to repair the two damaged pillars at Medigadda, even as drought concerns grew.
He said the Medigadda repairs demand was urgent because irrigation and drinking water supply could suffer if the government delayed action.
Medigadda repairs demand linked to drought risk
Harish Rao criticised the Congress ministers’ visit to Tummidihatti and said it exposed the government’s “more publicity, less work” approach.
“Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his Ministers are only making speeches while doing nothing on the ground,” he said.
He alleged that the government was staging events at Tummidihatti only to target the BRS politically. Instead, he said, it should take preventive steps before drought conditions intensified.
Harish Rao also accused Congress ministers of making contradictory statements on irrigation projects. He said Minister Vivek had falsely claimed that an agreement for a 150-metre barrage at Tummidihatti was completed during the Congress regime.
“If such an agreement really existed, why was not even a handful of soil excavated during the seven-and-a-half years of the undivided Andhra Pradesh Congress government?” he asked.
Medigadda repairs demand amid Tummidihatti row
Harish Rao questioned why work had not begun in the last 30 months under the present Congress government if the project details were already finalised.
He recalled that former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had written to then Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. He said Chavan objected to unilateral works without agreement and warned that such efforts would become meaningless.
Harish Rao pointed to conflicting statements from Congress leaders. He said Jupally Krishna Rao claimed water could flow to Yellampalli by gravity from Tummidihatti. Uttam Kumar Reddy said water would be brought to Sundilla Barrage. Revanth Reddy said water would be lifted from Tummidihatti to Yellampalli.
“Who is speaking the truth? These ignorant statements are embarrassing the state,” Harish Rao said.
He said interstate water issues needed dialogue and coordination. However, he said the Congress government was relying on public letters and political statements.
Harish Rao also warned the government against insulting Kaleshwaram. “If you insult Kaleshwaram, Lord Mukteshwara himself will punish you. Be careful,” he said.
He demanded that the Congress government stop “drama politics” around Tummidihatti and begin Medigadda repairs immediately. He said the work was needed to protect irrigation and drinking water supply for Telangana farmers.