Uttam blames previous govt. failure on irrigation, El Nino for ryots’ plight now

The short discussion on the effects of El Nino and remedial measures taken up in the Assembly on Friday was centred more on irrigation, Kaleshwaram project barrages and Tummidihatti barrage.

Initiating the discussion, Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy assured farmers that the State government would stand by them through the water crisis, stating that El Nino had compounded the consequences of a decade of irrigation failures under the previous BRS government. Safeguarding drinking water, protecting standing crops and securing Telangana’s rightful share in river waters were the government priorities.

He argued that the crisis reflected both adverse weather and the legacy of unfinished projects, defective construction and poor water management by the previous dispensation. “Even if we cannot prevent El Nino, the government is prepared in advance to reduce its impact,” he said.