Telangana CM Revanth Reddy accuses his Maharashtra counterpart of showing callous apathy towards Tummidihatti barrage

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of being apathetic to his repeated requests for talks to facilitate the construction of the proposed barrage at Tummidihatti in Telangana’s Adilabad district under the Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi project.

“I have been repeatedly requesting him to hold talks on the long pending project concerning the interests of lakhs of farmers in the combined Adilabad district, but in vain,” he said, referring to his recent letter to Mr. Fadnavis.

“Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy should immediately take the initiative to facilitate the talks in the interests of Adilabad farmers or else he would have to face the wrath of our farmers,” Mr. Revanth Reddy cautioned.

The Centre should procure the entire paddy and maize purchased by the State government by June 15, failing which an action plan will be announced to mount pressure on the Centre in this regard, he said.

Addressing a public meeting at Kagaznagar crossroads in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district on Monday night, the Chief Minister said, “Mr Fadnavis is showing callous apathy towards my persistent requests on Tummidihatti barrage.”

The construction of the barrage is imperative to irrigate lakhs of acres in the combined Adilabad and its neighbouring districts, he noted, saying: “We are seeking 2,000 acres of land and expressed our readiness to bear the entire expenditure for acquisition of the land,” Mr. Reddy said.

Taking a swipe at the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Mr. Reddy alleged that seven mandals of Telangana were merged with Andhra Pradesh by the Centre for the Polavaram project in 2014.

“We are not asking for villages and only seeking 2,000 acres of land from Maharashtra government for Tummidihatti barrage to cater to the irrigation needs of our farmers. Mr. Kishan Reddy should play mediation role to facilitate the construction of the much-awaited barrage to protect the interests of our farmers,” Mr. Revanth Reddy said. Any delay in this regard may lead to a situation where the farmers may erupt in anger, he cautioned.

Stating that the State government had so far procured more than 60 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, the Chief Minister vowed to ensure purchase of every grain of paddy, including the soaked paddy. If the Centre fails to lift the procured paddy and maize by June 15, the grains would be dumped in front of the houses of the BJP leaders, he said.

The Chief Minister announced 2.5 lakh houses across the State under the second phase of the Indiramma housing scheme on the occasion.

He said the people’s government accorded top priority to provide housing for tribal people.

In the first phase of the Indiramma housing scheme, 21,000 houses were sanctioned for tribal people in addition to the total 4.50 lakh houses (3,500 per each constituency). This initiative stands as an unwavering commitment to the welfare of tribal people, he asserted.