Jagadish Reddy Demands Resumption of Kannepalli Pumps for Kaleshwaram Project

Former Minister and Suryapet MLA G Jagadish Reddy on Sunday demanded that the Telangana government immediately resume operations at the Kannepalli pump house and release irrigation water through the Nagarjuna Sagar left canal. Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad, he stated that the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) report on the Kaleshwaram project had exposed false propaganda against the initiative.

Jagadish Reddy said the CWPRS report on the Sundilla and Annaram barrages revealed alleged collusion between the Congress government and the BJP regarding the Kaleshwaram project. He noted that the State government had repeatedly cited the National Dam Safety Authority to justify keeping the Kannepalli pump house non-operational.

According to the BRS leader, the government had disregarded repeated appeals from BRS working president KT Rama Rao to run the Kannepalli pumps independently of the Medigadda barrage. He stated that operating the pumps could help fill key reservoirs, including Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar, and Ranganayaka Sagar.

Jagadish Reddy alleged that the administration was denying irrigation water to lakhs of acres despite adequate availability in both the Krishna and Godavari river basins. He also pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was drawing significant water volumes through the Pothireddypadu head regulator, claiming that roughly 140 TMCft had been diverted.

Highlighting conditions at the Nagarjuna Sagar project, the former Minister said the reservoir held sufficient water to supply its left canal. He recalled that the previous BRS administration maintained irrigation supplies even when reservoir water levels dropped to around 510 feet.

Jagadish Reddy claimed the current government was reluctant to release water due to associated costs for power and fertilisers, as well as the obligation to procure resulting crops. He called on the government to clarify its irrigation schedule, advise farmers on suitable crops, reconsider its overall irrigation policy, and tender an apology to former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.