KTR Warns Government Over Jurala Ayacut, Says Not An Acre Should Go Dry

BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Saturday alleged that farmers in the Palamuru region were struggling due to inadequate power supply and irrigation water, and warned the Telangana government against allowing any farmland under the Jurala ayacut to dry up.

KTR inspected the Gummadam substation in Wanaparthy district’s Pebberu mandal and reviewed its logbook to gather details about the power supply. He later took part in a rally from the Pebberu substation to Subhash Chowk, where he interacted with farmers affected by frequent power interruptions.

According to KTR, farmers told him that they were not receiving even five to six hours of uninterrupted electricity a day. He said farmers reported that power supply was being disrupted 10 to 12 times a day, while officials claimed that 12 hours of supply was being provided.

KTR alleged that repeated interruptions were damaging starters and electric motors and leaving farmers unable to operate irrigation pumps regularly. The resulting shortage of irrigation water was putting standing crops at risk, he said.

He also raised concerns over water availability for the Jurala ayacut, claiming that although the Krishna river had received 248 TMC of water, only 18 TMC had been supplied to areas under Jurala. He further alleged that the pumps of the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme were not being operated properly and that the project had received no more than 10 TMC of water.

KTR said the government had a responsibility to protect the entire 1.10 lakh-acre Jurala ayacut and asserted that the BRS would not remain silent if even an acre was allowed to dry up.

He claimed that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme had been about 90 per cent completed during the previous BRS government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao and alleged that the remaining works were being delayed for political reasons. He urged the government to take steps to utilise water from Srisailam and pursue discussions with Karnataka over water releases.

KTR also criticised the government over delays in Rythu Bandhu payments and the payment of the Rythu Bima premium. He said the BRS would continue its agitation until farmers in Palamuru received adequate irrigation water and reliable power supply.