Kavitha Calls for Alternative Water Plan Alongside Medigadda Repairs

Telangana Rakshana Sena president Kalvakuntla Kavitha has urged the state government to construct a coffer dam at the Kannepalli (Lakshmi) Pump House to utilise Pranahita river water and support farmers amid drought-like conditions across Telangana. She demanded that the work begin by the end of November, warning of a protest at the pump house if the government failed to act. Kavitha inspected the Pranahita river flow near the Kaleshwaram project along with party leaders.

Kavitha said farmers across the state were struggling with water shortages despite the availability of river water. She argued that better utilisation of the Godavari and Krishna rivers could help prevent drought conditions, recalling that the Telangana movement was driven by demands for water, funds and jobs.

Under her proposal, a coffer dam built above the 93-metre level near Kannepalli could help divert Pranahita water towards the Annaram and Sundilla barrages without depending on Medigadda. She estimated that the work could be completed in around six weeks at a cost of ₹25 crore, and offered to provide technical details to the government. With nearly two TMC of water flowing through the Pranahita daily, she said, failing to use it was a missed opportunity, particularly with concerns over the possible impact of El Niño on next year's rainfall.

Kavitha accused the Congress government of worsening irrigation conditions, alleging that expenditure of ₹26,000 crore had not brought irrigation to even one additional acre. She questioned the government's claim that the money had gone towards clearing old dues, asking why pending payments under fee reimbursement and Dalit Bandhu remained unpaid.

She also criticised incomplete canal works under the Kaleshwaram project, saying the additional irrigation target of 19 lakh acres remained unmet and another ₹50,000 crore could be needed to finish the work. Meanwhile, falling reservoir levels and around 21,000 dried-up tanks could deepen water scarcity and affect fishing communities, she warned.

With crops nearing maturity, Kavitha called for urgent measures to ensure water and electricity for farmers. She urged the government to repair Medigadda barrage while pursuing alternative water-diversion measures, adding that technical changes could be made based on engineers' advice. She warned of protests if authorities ignored the proposal despite the possibility of providing relief to farmers.