Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samiti president, Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy, launched a padayatra from Pothireddypadu Head Regulator to Malyala protesting against the sanction of Palamur Lift Irrigation Scheme on Saturday.
Around 1,500 people will accompany him to Malyala. Addressing the farmers before launching the walkathon, Mr. Reddy said the Palamur Lift irrigation scheme, which was intended to draw 70 tmcft in 30 days of flood period at Jurala reservoir, would spell doom for Rayalaseema projects.
He accused the government of having no concern for the drought-prone Rayalaseema area, which had no assured water despite completion of projects. Flood water was only allocated to Hundri-Neeva and Pothireddypadu.
Kiran criticised
He criticised Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for releasing the GO despite public protests against the formation of Telangana. An amount of Rs. 6.91 crore was released for conducting the survey of the project which would supply water to Mahabubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts.
He alleged that the successive governments had neglected the irrigation needs of Rayalaseema region despite availability of water in the Krishna River at Srisailam reservoir.
Rayalaseema is facing severe water shortage even in an integrated State, he said. One can imagine the fate of the region once Telangana State is formed.
He said Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Vijayamma should undertake their protest at Pothireddypadu rather than indulging in gimmicks to attract people’s attention. Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who delivered a sermon on the irrigation disaster of Andhra State in case of division, should not have issued the controversial GO.
Mr. Byreddy will wind up his walkathon at Malyala, the head of another lift irrigation scheme, to symbolically highlight the fate of the two projects in future.
