Harish Rao Accuses Congress of Causing Artificial Drought in Telangana | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Accusing the Congress govt for creating an artificial drought, former minister T Harish Rao said farmers were now facing power cuts, irrigation shortages and crop losses under the Congress rule. He demanded an apology from chief minister A Revanth Reddy for power and irrigation problems.“This is not a drought caused by nature. It is an artificial drought caused by the Congress govt. Water is available in the rivers, but the govt is not operating the pumps properly. Power is also not being generated to meet the needs of farmers,” he said.Speaking at a public meeting held at the Government Degree College grounds in Siddipet as part of the three-day celebrations marking ten years of Siddipet district on Sunday, Harish Rao alleged that the govt had failed to maintain adequate coal stocks, affecting power generation at thermal power plants. He questioned why irrigation pumps at Kaleshwaram, Kalwakurthy and Devadula were not being operated for 24 hours.The BRS deputy floor leader said Ranganayaka Sagar was not being filled to its full capacity despite the availability of Godavari water. He also alleged that pumps at Devadula were being operated for only eight hours a day, affecting farmers in parts of Warangal and Siddipet districts.He questioned why Kalwakurthy pumps were being operated for only eight hours when water was available at Srisailam. He also referred to the transfer of Krishna water towards Kuppam in AP and asked why farmers in nearby Palamuru were being denied adequate irrigation.On Siddipet district formation, Harish Rao said the people of Siddipet had benefited greatly from the formation of the district ten years ago. He accused the Congress govt of neglecting Siddipet and cancelling development projects over the past three years.Harish Rao said the 10 celebrations belonged to every family in Siddipet district. Before the district was formed, people from areas such as Nanganur, Chinnakodur, Doulthabad, Thoguta, Husnabad, Cherial, Kondapak, Wargal and Dubbak had to travel long distances to Sangareddy for basic administrative work.He said the formation of Siddipet district brought administration closer to the people and helped improve public services. New mandals and gram panchayats also supported local development.Harish Rao recalled that in 1983, a request was submitted to then Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao for the formation of Siddipet district. Later, after becoming CM, KCR signed the order and fulfilled the long-standing demand. Siddipet district was formally inaugurated on October 11, 2016, he said.The BRS deputy leader said major irrigation projects, including Ananthagiri, Gouravelli, Ranganayaka Sagar, Mallanna Sagar and Kondapochamma Sagar, transformed the district and improved irrigation facilities. He credited KCR, the then district administration and local public representatives for completing these projects within a short period.He said the BRS government had also brought an IT Tower to Siddipet so that local youth could find employment in the technology sector without having to move to other cities.Projects Cancelled Instead of CompletedHarish Rao alleged that the Congress govt had focused on cancelling development projects in Siddipet rather than completing them. He listed several projects that he said had been cancelled or put on hold include roads, corrector college, SC residential degree college, sports stadium, and tourism projects. He said the unfinished structures at some locations were evidence of projects left incomplete. He also alleged that the govt had failed to maintain roads and buildings developed during the previous administration.Harish Rao thanked the people of Siddipet and the public representatives who had supported the formation of the district.“I am a son raised by the people of Siddipet. Whether I hold office or not, I will continue to work for them as long as I live,” he said.He said Siddipet had played an important role in the Telangana movement and in the formation of new districts. He expressed confidence that the region would once again become the starting point of a political movement for the BRS.Ends/