Irrigation disaster rooted in BRS greed: Uttam Kumar Reddy
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy inspects Rajiv Shantinagar- Aitipamula lift irrigation projects
Huzurnagar : Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the previous BRS government, blaming its arrogance and corruption for the collapse of the Kaleshwaram project and the irreversible damage caused to the state’s financial and irrigation systems. “Had construction been taken up at Tummidihatti, this situation would never have arisen,” he said, accusing the BRS regime of abandoning the Congress-conceived project only out of jealousy.
Speaking to the media at the Huzurnagar constituency headquarters after a detailed review of development works in Huzurnagar and Kodad, the Minister said, “Tummidihatti, designed by the Congress under the Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi project with an estimated cost of ₹38,000 crore, was deliberately set aside by the BRS government because they did not want the Congress to get credit. Instead, they shifted the plan to Medigadda and launched Kaleshwaram, lured by commissions.”
He pointed out that the estimated cost of Kaleshwaram was suddenly inflated to ₹1.2 lakh crore from the original ₹38,000 crore. “Just because commissions were not coming their way, they dumped a viable project and took up an unnecessary, faulty one. And the result is in front of us—the same Kaleshwaram collapsed under their own tenure,” he said, calling it a textbook case of greed and misgovernance.
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Uttam said if the Congress’s original Tummidihatti plan had been completed with ₹38,000 crore, the remaining ₹62,000 crore could have been used to complete several pending irrigation projects across Telangana. “Projects like Palamuru-Rangareddy, Koilsagar, Bhima, Nettempadu, Kalwakurthy, SLBC, Dindi, Devadula, Gouravelli, and Sitarama—all could have been completed. Telangana would have become lush and agriculturally self-sufficient,” he asserted.
He added that due to the misadventures of the BRS government, the state now has to repay ₹16,000 crore every year including interest. “These loans have now become a generational burden and will haunt us for the next three generations,” Uttam said.
He accused the BRS leaders of destroying the irrigation sector through sheer arrogance, incompetence, and ignorance. “This is their legacy—permanent damage to Telangana. No one else can claim this ‘achievement’,” he remarked sarcastically.
On the recent reports by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), the Minister slammed BRS leaders for mocking the findings. “The moment the NDSA report was made public, they started brushing it off and even claimed ‘bombs were planted’—it’s a ridiculous claim. If bombs were really planted, weren’t they in power at that time? Why didn’t they take action? Now, after losing power for 16 months, they suddenly remember this fairy tale?” he questioned.
He further revealed that it was not just political opponents, but even construction agencies, engineers, and experts had warned that the three barrages were structurally flawed. “But the BRS leaders ignored everything, plugged their ears, and pursued commissions. That is why Kaleshwaram is now a disaster,” he said.
Uttam also took issue with the renaming of Congress-era projects. “Why did the BRS government erase the names of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar? Rajiv Sagar was renamed Sitarama, and the Chevella-Pranahita project became Kaleshwaram. What kind of petty mindset is this? Why such contempt for national icons?” he asked.
He asserted that the judicial probe headed by Justice P.C. Ghose is fully transparent and unbiased. “The Commission is functioning independently and lawfully. Whatever action is taken will be based on the Commission’s findings and the people’s mandate,” he said, reiterating the government’s commitment to accountability.
Criticising BRS attempts to discredit the NDSA, Uttam said, “This is a constitutional institution, established with the highest professional standards. Making derogatory remarks against it only exposes the BRS’s guilt and fear.”
Highlighting the Congress government’s track record, he said the irrigation sector underwent major reforms during the party’s rule, including the appointment of 1,100 engineers and 1,800 field workers. “Our goal is to provide maximum ayacut with minimum expenditure. We have already chalked out plans to complete pending projects and release funds for land acquisition,” he added.
He stated that the recent high-level review chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Jala Soudha irrigation office is part of this broader strategy to rejuvenate Telangana’s irrigation landscape.
Despite the collapse of Kaleshwaram under BRS, Uttam said the Congress government achieved a record level of paddy procurement in its first year. “This is the result of reforms brought in the irrigation sector. For the first time, even fine rice farmers received bonuses—this is a historic milestone created by the Congress,” he declared.
Uttam Kumar Reddy accused the former BRS regime of making whimsical, top-down decisions without listening to engineering experts. “They flew over projects in helicopters and gave orders from the sky, ignoring ground realities. This arrogance is what brought Kaleshwaram crashing down. And now they must answer to the people of Telangana,” he said.
