Power Minister C. Laxma Reddy warned that power cuts to agriculture could be inevitable in rabi due to acute shortage, but the Telangana government will try to reduce them as much as possible.
In an informal chat after addressing a press conference to rebut the charges of senior BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy, the Minister also said no decision was taken by the government on upward revision of power tariff. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will take a view on this, he said.
At the press conference, Mr. Laxma Redy denied the claim of Mr. Janardhan Reddy that work on the third lift at Kalwakurthy lift irrigation scheme in Mahbubnagar district had not commenced and, therefore, the latter would go on a hunger strike after January 17. Dewatering works at the lift started on January 5 and the rest of the schedule would follow after that.
Nagam’s threat
The Minister said Mr. Janardhan Reddy appeared to have threatened to go on agitation fully aware that the works had started. It was only to show to the outside world that the works took off after he announced the agitation, he added.
He also said the contractor agreed to proceed with the project after the government offered to release Rs 5 crore as mobilisation advance against bank guarantee. The work was delayed during previous governments due to non-release of funds and tardy land acquisition. Mr. Janardhan Reddy also colluded with the contractor, he alleged.
‘Works on track’
The Minister assured that all irrigation projects in Mahbubnagar would be completed by kharif in 2016 to irrigate seven lakh acres. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will lay the foundation for Palamuru lift irrigation scheme this month. The detailed project report which delayed the ceremony had now been completed.
Reacting to the charge of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that the government was trying to carry Krishna water to other districts through the Jurala-Pakala project at the cost of Mahbubnagar, Mr. Laxma Reddy said only surplus water would be made available to the project as it had inter-basin implications.
No decision taken by the government on upward revision of power tariff, says Minister
