KTR warns of siege to Kannepally pumphouse if water pumping not resumed
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday warned the Congress government that his party would lay siege to the Kannepally pumphouse
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday warned the Congress government that his party would lay siege to the Kannepally pumphouse if it failed to start water pumping to meet the irrigation and drinking water requirements of seven districts as well as Hyderabad metropolitan city. Addressing the media in the presence of several party leaders, including MLAs at the Kannepally pumphouse site in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, Mr. Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was causing hardship to lakhs of farmers by delaying the operation of the Kannepally pumphouse, a key component of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP).
Demanding that the motors at the pumphouse be switched on immediately, Mr. Rama Rao said resumption of pumping would help fill reservoirs such as Mallannasagar and other main water sources benefiting both irrigation and drinking water supply. Rama Rao accused the government of halting pumping operations citing observations made by the Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). “Considering the non-rainy days and prevailing weather conditions caused by El Nino, the State government must take immediate steps to pump water from the Kannepally pumphouse,” he said, and added that nearly 98,000 cusecs of water was being allowed to go waste.
He also asserted that there was no connection between restarting pumping operations and repair works at the damaged Medigadda barrage. Explaining the feasibility of pumping water, Mr. Rama Rao said, “Without the need to touch Medigadda, the existing system can carry water to Annaram with a gravity flow of about 13.5 kilometres and from there lift it to a height of about 93 metres,” he said. He further alleged that the government was ignoring rainfall concerns. “The government is not responding even though 26 of the 33 districts in the State are facing rain deficit,” he said.
Rama Rao also accused the police of attempting to obstruct the BRS convoy at several locations during the visit. Police initially stopped the convoy at Pemberthi in Jangaon district using barricades, leading to heated exchanges between BRS leaders and police personnel. Party workers later cleared the route, enabling the convoy to proceed.
The BriefWire