Terming Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed Banakacherla irrigation project as ‘illegal’, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy vowed to fight tooth and nail against it.
He was speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating the Ramagundam Lift Irrigation Scheme at Goliwada village in Anthergaon mandal of Peddapalli district on Sunday. It was built at ₹75 crore to irrigate over 13,000 acres in several villages in Anthergaon mandal and two villages in the neighbouring mandals. Ministers D Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Tummala Nageshwara Rao and others spoke.
“We have complained against the Banakacherla project with the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), the Central Water Commission (CWC) and other statutory bodies. The Central Expert Appraisal Committee has rejected the proposal following our strong objections,” the Irrigation Minister said. “The proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla link project is against the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act and violates Telangana’s rights over river waters.”
Mr. Reddy alleged that the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) was constructed at a huge cost with the intention of looting public money during the BRS government, resulting in huge drain on the State exchequer. “Not a single acre was brought under irrigation cover under the KLIP in Manthani constituency where the project is located,” he added.
