Hyderabad: Accusing the Opposition and the AP government of trying to stall TS projects, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday said that the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue was a slap on the face of AP.

“The Supreme Court decision has come as boon to Telangana. The case is now clear. TD and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other Opposition leaders had hatched a conspiracy to stall our projects,” he remarked.

In a big relief to parched Mahbubnagar district where migration is rampant, Mr Harish Rao released water to canals by switching on pumps of the Phase-II of the pending Nettampadu irrigation project that will provide irrigation water to 1.2 lakh acres, Phase-II of the Bheema project for 1.6 lakh acres and Koilasagar project that will help irrigate 20,000 acres.

“We will provide irrigation to 4.5 lakh acres this kharif and eight lakh acres next year. KCR’s goal is to complete pending projects and launch new ones. The Opposition claim’s that these projects were completed by them. If that’s true, why was water not released? We spent Rs 900 crore and will spend another Rs 2,000 crore to complete them. As water is released here, Congress, TD leaders are crying,” he said sarcastically.

Mr Harish Rao added, “Our aim is to bring in an additional 20 lakh acres under irrigation in Mahbubnagar district.”

Health minister Laxma Reddy, Deputy Chairman of Planning Board Nirajanjan Reddy, MP A.P. Jitender Reddy and other TRS leaders were present.
Mr Harish Rao alleged that BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy was making futile attempts to stall projects by filing cases in courts out of frustration due to defeat in elections.

“The Opposition is also instigating farmers not to part with their lands. Have faith in the Chief Minister, but not in Opposition. We acquired 8,000 acres of the 12,000 acres required,” he said.

The irrigation minister asserted by next summer, every household will get drinking water from Jurala at the doorsteps under Mission Bhagiratha.

He said that Congress MLA D.K. Aruna gave “Mangala harathi” (welcome) when YSR dug canals and took water illegally to Anantapur district. “She backed Samaikhyandhra and today she is on padayatra,” he fumed.