Kavitha extends support to displaced farmers of Uddandapur reservoir

Telangana Jagruthi president Kalvakuntla Kavitha visited the Uddandapur Reservoir area in Mahabubnagar district on Tuesday. The reservoir, part of the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project, has displaced several farmers, prompting Kavitha to meet the affected families and hear their grievances firsthand. She urged the state government to provide fair compensation and ensure justice for the displaced farmers.

Kavitha’s key demands

During her visit, Kavitha demanded that the government pay at least ₹25 lakh per acre to all displaced farmers. She stressed that compensation should be based on the current market value as of the payment date, not on outdated benchmarks like 2021, which she called “unfair.” She also insisted that everyone aged 18 and above at the time of displacement should be recognized as a rightful beneficiary of compensation.

Questions government over project delays

Kavitha criticized the Congress-led state government for the delay in completing the project, noting that although 80% of the work was finished earlier, the remaining portion has stalled since the change in power. She reminded that before Telangana’s formation, Mahabubnagar suffered chronic droughts, forcing even large landholders to migrate in search of livelihood. Post-statehood, under initiatives like Kaleshwaram, Mission Bhagiratha, and Mission Kakatiya, water availability had improved drastically, transforming the rural landscape, she said.

Explaining the significance of the Palamuru–Rangareddy project, Kavitha noted that it was envisioned by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) to make better use of Krishna River waters. She questioned why, despite being in power for nearly two years, the present government had not completed the remaining 20% of the work. “It’s not about blaming the BRS or the Congress - it’s about the people who are suffering because of the delay,” she said.

Kavitha also mentioned that court cases over about 200 acres of land were cited as reasons for the slowdown, but urged the government to resolve them swiftly and finish the project.

Commitment to Farmers

Expressing gratitude to the farmers who gave up their land for the project, Kavitha assured them that Telangana Jagruthi would continue to stand by their side until they receive fair compensation. “These farmers sacrificed their lands for the state’s progress. It’s our duty to ensure they get justice,” she said.