Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao has attributed the problems faced on irrigation and power fronts in the initial days of Telangana formation to the ‘inept’ attitude of the Congress leaders who could not prevail upon their Governments to ensure speedy completion of the ongoing projects in the erstwhile united State.
The Congress leaders including Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy remained ‘subservient’ to the then Government dominated by Andhra leaders in denying Telangana its due in the projects. “It is unfortunate that the attitude of these leaders did not change even after the formation of separate Telangana,” he said.
Mr. Harish Rao ridiculed the TPCC president for staking claim on Pulichintala project and said the project exposed the inefficiency of the Congress leaders. Located in Mr. Uttam Kumar’s constituency, Pulichintala project was designed with submergence of 32 villages in Telangana and ensuring water for third crop in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, he pointed out. “More than 12,000 families were evacuated and 14,000 acres submerged for a project which did not cater to the needs of Telangana,” he said wondering why the leaders who supported Pulichintala at the expense of Telangana raised hue and cry over Mallannasagar which envisaged minimum submergence and maximum benefits.
The Minister said that the negligence of the Congress leaders, who were then Ministers, had resulted in huge losses to Telangana. Pulichintala power plant for instance was not taken up till Telangana formation resulting in cost escalation of ₹ 200 crore from the initial estimated ₹ 380 crore.
Moreover, projects in Andhra Pradesh were completed from the funds of the united State while those in Telangana had to wait for the formation of separate State. “Had this not imposed additional burden on the people of the new State?” he asked.
While the State incurred heavy losses on account of the delay in the commissioning of the power projects, the then Congress government had declared Polavaram as national project as a result of which Telangana had to forego the benefits of Sileru project costing another ₹ 300 crore.Completion of Bhoopalapally and Lower Jurala projects would have spared the State from purchasing power from open market in the initial days, but the Telangana people had to pay for the negligence of the Congress leaders, he alleged.
The TRS Government had managed to enhance generation by over 6,000 MW in the last three years against the 6,000 MW capacity achieved in the last 60 years, but the Congress leaders were trying to obstruct major projects like Bhadradri and Yadadri. that would make Telangana self-sufficient in power generation.
“The obstacles notwithstanding, we are committed to ensure total generation capacity of 28,000 MW in the next three years,” he said.
