Hyderabad, Jan 8 (NationPress) K.T. Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), accused Telangana's Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of intentionally stopping the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project to appease his 'former political mentor' and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, which he claims is causing distress to thousands of farmers in the area.

While addressing a gathering at Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao criticized the Congress government's management of the project, labeling it as indicative of political insecurity and administrative failure, directly impacting the residents of the Palamuru region in Mahabubnagar district.

KTR, as he is widely known, pointed out that nearly 90% of the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project was completed during the administration of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).

Only the canal construction remained, which could have been swiftly finished to make the project operational. Instead of completing the outstanding tasks, the Congress government cancelled contracts, ceased all activities, and has refused to resume construction,” he emphasized.

According to KTR, the delay is not due to technical or financial issues but is purely political. He alleged that Revanth Reddy does not want KCR to gain recognition for delivering water to Palamuru and fears that drawing water from the Krishna River would upset his former political ally.

KTR recalled the 'historic moment' when KCR inaugurated the 145 MW pumps at Narlapur to draw Krishna waters, stating that the people of Palamuru witnessed significant progress under the BRS administration.

In stark contrast, he accused the current Chief Minister of engaging in political vendetta by stalling the project at a time when farmers are suffering from severe water shortages and widespread crop failures.

KTR also criticized Revanth Reddy for allegedly lacking a fundamental understanding of irrigation and water resources. He pointed out that a Chief Minister who mistakenly identified the Bhakra Nangal Dam in Himachal Pradesh as being in Telangana has no right to advise KCR on river basins or irrigation strategies.

Moreover, he claimed that even senior Congress figures are unaware of the river basins associated with major Telangana projects like Devadula, raising serious doubts about the government’s capacity to manage critical irrigation systems.

The BRS leader also criticized the Congress government's performance over the last two years, describing it as a time of ‘lies, demolitions, and deliberate destruction.’

He accused the government of neglecting its six promises, misleading citizens with numerous pledges, and demolishing the homes of the impoverished across several districts.

He further denounced the destruction of check dams constructed during the BRS regime as an unprecedented action by any government. While the previous administration focused on constructing check dams, reservoirs, and water-retention structures, KTR asserted that the Congress administration has dedicated the last two years to dismantling them.