BRS leader KT Rama Rao criticized Telangana CM Revanth Reddy for the SLBC tunnel collapse, alleging poor planning and halted progress under the Congress government. Rescue operations are ongoing.
HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has strongly criticized Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy following the collapse of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel. The incident, which occurred on February 22 in Nagarkurnool district, has left eight workers trapped, with rescue efforts still underway.
KTR blamed the Chief Minister’s decisions and lack of proper planning for the tragedy. He pointed out that under the previous BRS administration, 12 kilometres of the SLBC tunnel were completed without incident, whereas the current government has struggled with even minor progress.
The BRS leader also accused the Congress-led government of stalling project work for the past 13 months and shifting responsibility onto the previous administration. He highlighted that the BRS government had allocated ₹3,900 crore for the SLBC project, ₹600 crore more than the earlier Congress government, yet no such incidents occurred under their tenure.
In response, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy visited the accident site on March 2, nine days after the collapse, and held the BRS government accountable for negligence. He acknowledged the difficult conditions inside the tunnel and assured that rescue operations were being intensified to locate and save the trapped workers.
The SLBC project, essential for irrigation in the region, has now become a political battleground, with both parties blaming each other for the mishap. The incident has also reignited discussions on the importance of meticulous planning and execution in large-scale infrastructure projects to ensure worker safety and project integrity.
Authorities have urged patience and support for the ongoing rescue operations as teams navigate the complex task of reaching the trapped workers. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.
