Telangana would have weathered El Nino better if not for BRS regime’s mistakes: Uttam Kumar Reddy

HYDERABAD

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was taking advantage of the drought conditions due to the El Nino phenomenon and its failure to construct the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of Kaleshwaram Project.

The disinformation campaign led by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and former ministers KT Rama Rao and Harish Rao would put even Joseph Goebbels to shame, Mr. Reddy said at a press conference here on Saturday. If the BRS government had completed the Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, SLBC and Sita Rama projects in the past, the problems of the farming community in the current drought conditions would have been less.

He said the Congress government has achieved record paddy production and procurement without the use of the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram project. BRS leaders spread misinformation just to cover up their government’s mistakes in building the three dams. Now they were performing a new drama, although Medigadda was damaged when they were in power, he claimed.

The Minister pointed out that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) study of the Kaleshwaram dams had identified poor designs and construction and were also approved by technical, judicial and inspection reports. BRS leaders tried to mislead the farming community just to cover up their mistakes, but farmers did not buy into their narrative, he said.

Had the previous government properly utilized the money lent over 10 years for the ongoing irrigation projects, the problems of the farming community could have been avoided now, he said, adding that the completion of Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, SLBC and Sita Rama, Pranahitha-Chevella, Devadula and others projects would help the government effectively counter the impact of El Ninought.

He mentioned that the NDSA has recommended to keep the dyke gates open and the government is proceeding with the rehabilitation of the dykes based on the recommendations of Indian and international experts for the rehabilitation of irrigation structures. Proposals for the rehabilitation of the dykes were being finalized and there were no ill intentions or political intentions in the restoration, he said.

The Minister said that the broad proposals propose to widen the stilling tanks to 66 meters at Medigadda and Annaram and 58 meters at Sundilla compared to their existing lengths of 46.8 meters, 45 meters and 30 meters respectively.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 19:49 IST