Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday accused the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of using the prevailing drought conditions and issues surrounding the Kaleshwaram project to target the Congress government.
He also criticised former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and former ministers KT Rama Rao and Harish Rao over what he described as a misinformation campaign against the state government.
Addressing a press conference, Reddy said the BRS leadership was attempting to exploit the drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon and the problems associated with the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme for political gains.
He accused the former chief minister and the two former ministers of spreading misinformation about the government's handling of irrigation and agricultural issues.
Comparing their campaign with Nazi propaganda, Reddy said it would put even Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister, to shame.
REDDY BLAMES BRS FOR INCOMPLETE IRRIGATION PROJECTS
Reddy also questioned the previous BRS government's record on irrigation infrastructure, arguing that the failure to complete several projects had compounded the difficulties faced by farmers during the current drought.
He said the completion of projects such as Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) and Sita Rama could have reduced the impact of the prevailing water shortage on the farming community.
According to the minister, the timely completion of these irrigation projects would have improved water availability and helped farmers cope with inadequate rainfall and drought conditions. He maintained that the previous government's decisions on irrigation infrastructure needed to be examined in the context of the challenges confronting the agricultural sector.
KALESHWARAM PROJECT UNDER SCRUTINY
The minister's remarks also brought the Kaleshwaram project back into the political debate in Telangana. The Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages have been at the centre of scrutiny over structural concerns and the functioning of the irrigation scheme.
The project, which was developed during the previous BRS regime, has remained a major point of contention between the Congress government and the opposition party. The condition of the barrages and their implications for irrigation have featured prominently in the political exchanges between the two sides.
Reddy's comments reflect the Congress government's continuing criticism of the previous administration's irrigation policies and its handling of major infrastructure projects.
The BRS, led by Chandrasekhar Rao, has been a vocal critic of the Congress government's policies and its response to issues affecting farmers.
With drought conditions placing pressure on the farming community, irrigation infrastructure and the availability of water for agriculture remain key issues in Telangana's political discourse.
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