Minister Jupally blames past govt for irrigation neglect, reactivates Kalwakurthy lift scheme motors

Hyderabad: Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao accused the previous BRS government of endangering the livelihoods of farmers through systemic neglect of irrigation infrastructure, particularly the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLI).

On Tuesday, the minister, along with MLAs Megha Reddy, Rajesh Reddy, and Kasireddy Narayan Reddy, switched on motors at the KLI project near Elluru in Kollapur mandal, Nagarkurnool district, and released water. Rao claimed that critical warnings he issued during his earlier tenure as minister were ignored by then Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao.

He said he had recommended the installation of a head regulator to protect the project from Srisailam backwater surges, but the advice was dismissed. The current government, he asserted, is working to complete canal works and ensure full irrigation coverage.

Krishna Rao revealed that only three of five motors at the KLI pump house are functional, and two have been defunct for years without repairs under the previous regime. The scheme, designed to irrigate 4.60 lakh acres, lacks sufficient canal and motor capacity, he said.

Dismissing criticism from the opposition, Krishna Rao said they were spreading misinformation about irrigation projects and unfairly blaming the current administration.