Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy blamed the previous BRS government for the Kaleshwaram project failures and said the State would take further action based on the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to New Delhi, Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao for commenting on the Kaleshwaram project. He said the present situation would not have arisen if the project had been constructed properly during the BRS government.
The Minister said the Telangana government was awaiting the NDSA review before deciding its next course of action. He added that the State was making every effort to ensure water supply to the people.
Kaleshwaram project failures to be reviewed by NDSA
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the NDSA had convened a meeting on July 31 to review the Kaleshwaram project. He said both the Telangana government and the Central Water Commission (CWC) had been invited to participate.
According to the Minister, the meeting would assess the status of the project and determine the future course of action based on the authority’s findings. He said the government had no political motive in handling the issue and was proceeding strictly according to established procedures.
The Minister alleged that the barrages were constructed during the BRS government’s tenure and developed problems during the same period. He also said the NDSA had directed that the gates of the three barrages remain open.
Kaleshwaram project failures linked to quality concerns
Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the Kaleshwaram project failures resulted from deficiencies in construction quality during the previous government. He also criticised K.T. Rama Rao’s remarks on the project and said the BRS should accept responsibility for the condition of the barrages.
The Minister maintained that the State government would act only after examining the NDSA report and following the recommendations of the expert authority. He reiterated that the government’s priority was to safeguard irrigation infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted water supply while addressing issues related to the Kaleshwaram project.