Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao called upon the employees of Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to explain the benefits of the proposed construction of Mallannasagar in the district.
“Mallannasagar was aimed at transforming a farm labourer with two acres and five acres to farmers who can hire labourers and enjoy the fruits as a farmer. While we are trying to bring Godavari water and irrigate about 7.5 lakh acres in Medak district alone, the opposition parties are creating hurdles. These were the same people who said that they do not want Telangana and only a package of Rs. 25,000 crore is enough for the development of tanks in Telangana area,” said Mr. Harish Rao while addressing the contract employees of IKP and NREGS who felicitated him at the district headquarters on Saturday for the increase in wages by the government.
Without naming the person, he recalled how a former Congress MLA took up fast demanding national status for Pranahita- Chevella project and how the same person was opposing construction of Mallannasagar.
“Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was very much committed to irrigate one crore acres but opposition parties like Congress and CPI (M) were creating problems ,” he told them. He has also recalled the farmers’ suicides in areas like Gajwel, Dubbak and Siddipet and the government has been trying to improve their living conditions by providing irrigation. Stating that the government is employee friendly and it was proved several times including the case of RTC employees, the Minister asked the employees to perform better and become part of Haritha Haram. He also explained about the measures like pension, six kilo rice for each person in below poverty line families, Kalyana Lakshmi and other schemes.
The programme was presided over by MLA Chinta Prabhakar. Deputy Speaker M. Padma Devender Reddy, Lok Sabha members K. Prabhakar Reddy, B.B. Patil, MLAs and MLCs were present at the meeting.
