BRS MLA Niranjan Reddy Questions Three-Year Delay in Palamuru-Rangareddy Project

Former Agriculture Minister and BRS leader Singireddy Niranjan Reddy has questioned the Congress government over the prolonged delay in the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, challenging Minister Jupally Krishna Rao to explain why the project works have remained stalled for three years. He maintained that the decision to transfer water from the Narlapur reservoir to Yellur was taken during the previous BRS government and said the outlet recently used by Jupally to release water was also constructed at the request of former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

Niranjan Reddy said the BRS government had introduced measures to address farmers’ difficulties caused by the inadequate capacity of canals under the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme. The measures included linking the Narlapur reservoir with Yellur, the Edula reservoir with the Buddaram canal, and the Vattem reservoir with the Kalwakurthy canal. He said these decisions were aimed at correcting shortcomings in the irrigation system and improving water distribution to agricultural areas.

With water available in the Srisailam project, Niranjan Reddy urged the government to make the most of the opportunity and accelerate the pending works. He said removing the accumulated earth obstructing water movement under Package III would help facilitate the flow. While the available pumps could be operated, running all ten simultaneously might create technical difficulties, he cautioned.

The pumps at Edula and Vattem reservoirs were ready, and water could be transferred from these locations towards Karivena, he said. Each reservoir could accommodate five TMC of water, allowing the government to utilise the existing infrastructure while completing the remaining works next year.

Niranjan Reddy asked why tenders issued for canal construction under the BRS regime had been cancelled and why fresh tenders had not been invited. He also questioned the Congress government’s decision-making and sought an explanation for appointing irrigation advisers who, he alleged, had previously worked against Telangana’s irrigation projects.

He criticised Jupally for failing to respond to repeated BRS demands to complete the scheme, alleging that the minister was prioritising personal and political interests over the welfare of Palamuru’s farmers.

Niranjan Reddy said the BRS would continue fighting for Telangana’s interests irrespective of its political position. Declaring his willingness to accept Jupally’s challenge, he urged the government to release funds immediately and resolve farmers’ problems by expediting the stalled irrigation project.