Minister Jupally Krishna Rao Accuses BRS of Neglecting Palamuru Irrigation Projects

Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Wednesday released water from Narlapur into the Yellur reservoir, a move expected to extend irrigation facilities to an additional one lakh acres under the Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme. Farmers in Kalwakurthy, Achampet, Nagarkurnool, Kollapur and Wanaparthy constituencies are expected to benefit from the release, which is aimed at strengthening agricultural water availability in the region.

The minister said water was being released at a rate of 1,000 cusecs from the Narlapur and Yellur reservoirs. Alongside irrigation requirements, the government was taking steps through Mission Bhagiratha to ensure an uninterrupted drinking water supply and prevent shortages for residents.

Jupally accused the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government of neglecting irrigation projects in the undivided Palamuru district during its ten-year tenure. He questioned the opposition's demands for water releases, arguing that several projects had been left incomplete under the previous administration. The present government, he said, was working to complete the pending works rather than making announcements without addressing construction-related challenges.

The minister urged opposition leaders to examine the actual progress of projects before criticising the government, stressing that statements made without understanding ground realities could mislead the public.

Jupally said important works along the Narlapur-Edula stretch, including canal excavation and bridge construction, were still in progress. Excavation remains pending at three locations, while rocky terrain in certain stretches has slowed construction. The completion of both canals and bridges is necessary to ensure that water can flow through the intended network without interruption.

The remaining works could take another three months, he said. Releasing water before the required infrastructure is ready could result in the flow being disrupted midway, making it necessary to complete the essential construction first.

The minister also targeted former minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy and BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao, accusing them of demanding water releases without adequately assessing the projects' status. He said opposition leaders should visit the sites and understand the construction progress before making public statements.

Jupally maintained that the government's priority was to complete the unfinished irrigation infrastructure and deliver tangible benefits to farmers. He said the ongoing works were intended to expand irrigation coverage and improve water availability across the Palamuru region.