Hyderabad: Tourism and excise minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Monday accused the previous BRS govt of failing to create adequate water-storage capacity in the erstwhile Palamuru region, resulting in the current shortage in the Jurala ayacut area.
He said Jurala had around 3 tmcft of silt accumulation, while another 2 tmcft had to be reserved for drinking water. He said former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao had announced a 20-tmcft Gattu reservoir and promised to divert water from Singotam reservoir to Jurala and Bhima ayacuts. Congress govt had now issued a GO and sanctioned funds for a 15-tmcft Gudemdoddi balancing reservoir, he said, alleging that several irrigation projects remained incomplete despite funds and announcements. Jupally rejected claims that 90% of the Palamuru-Rangareddy project was completed under BRS govt.
He said Narlapur pumps would need another three months before commissioning and accused BRS working president KT Rama Rao of claiming water would be provided to seven lakh acres. Jupally accused BRS and BJP of politicising the issue. Jupally questioned why additional reservoirs were not built near Jurala to meet the requirements of the ayacut.
Jupally said peak power demand had reached a record 19,543 MW, against 15,497 MW under the previous govt. On Almatti, Jupally said the state had approached the Supreme Court in 1997 and obtained a stay against raising the dam’s height. He said the govt had sought Rs 20,000 crore from Centre for drought-related problems and national project status for Palamuru-Rangareddy project.
He said the govt was using available water judiciously and taking steps to prevent shortages next season. He attributed the situation to the El Nino effect and said farmers had been advised to grow less water-intensive crops. Despite poor rainfall affecting hydel generation, the govt was purchasing power to meet demand.