Hyderabad: Former Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy on Monday demanded immediate repairs to the damaged structures in the Rayanpalli project canal in Medak mandal, alleging that delays were causing hardship to farmers.
She led a dharna along with BRS leaders and farmers in front of the Medak Collectorate and later submitted a memorandum to officials.
Padma Devender Reddy said heavy rains last year washed away a key structure in the high-level canal of the Rayanpalli project.
As a result, farmers dependent on the irrigation project have been facing difficulties.
She said the project supplies irrigation water to nearly 2,500 acres of agricultural land.
However, the government has not taken up repair works even after a year, she alleged.
Rayanpalli project canal repairs sought to protect irrigation
Padma Devender Reddy said the high-level canal fills several village tanks and water bodies.
These include tanks in Thimmanagar, Maktabhupatipur, Guttakindipalli, Shivayipalli, Malkapur Thanda and Venkatapur Kontur villages.
The canal also supplies water to Gosamudram, Pitlambes and Bangla Nayakuni tanks in Medak town.
Therefore, she urged the government to begin repair works immediately and restore irrigation facilities.
Meanwhile, she said floods last year damaged the bridge across Pushpala Vagu.
Authorities later built a temporary mud crossing at the location, she added.
However, fresh heavy rains could disrupt connectivity to seven villages, she warned.
Therefore, she demanded construction of a permanent bridge across the stream.
Padma Devender Reddy also said breaches had occurred in Ghanpur Cheruvu and Pathur Kochcheruvu in Haveli Ghanpur mandal.
Yet, authorities have not completed restoration works at those locations, she alleged.
She demanded immediate repairs to the damaged tanks as well.
The BRS leader warned that the party would organise large-scale protests, dharnas and road blockades if the government continued to ignore farmers’ problems.