Hyderabad: Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday accused BRS leaders of spreading false propaganda about the condition of Jurala and Manjeera irrigation projects.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said problems at these projects stemmed from ten years of neglect under the BRS, with no routine maintenance, desiltation, or upgrades carried out during their rule.
He underlined that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had sanctioned ₹100 crore for an alternative bridge to reduce traffic stress on the Jurala dam and prevent damage to its structure. Engineers had confirmed there was no threat to the dam’s operations, he said.
Uttam also announced ₹300 crore for installing a second gantry crane at Jurala, along with systematic desiltation and vegetation clearing to recover the dam’s capacity, which had dropped by 20–25% due to silt.
He further revealed that the Nettampadu project, left incomplete under BRS, had now been cleared for ₹2,753 crore in revised estimates, with a December target for completion. Work on the Rayalampadu and Mallammakunta reservoirs was also progressing, he noted.
Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised BRS for ignoring existing irrigation assets while focusing on projects like Kaleshwaram, which he said were driven by commissions. He described the Congress government’s efforts as systematic, scientific, and transparent, including recruitment of over 1,100 engineers and 1,800 laskars to strengthen the irrigation workforce.
Joining the visit, Minister Srihari stated early monsoon arrivals had slowed repair work but there was no reason for alarm, accusing BRS of hypocrisy.
Senior engineers explained that all 62 gates of Jurala were being regularly checked, with four ropes already replaced and more scheduled before mid-July. Most gates were functioning normally with no immediate risk.
Uttam Kumar Reddy concluded that the Congress government was fully committed to protecting Telangana’s irrigation lifelines and supporting farmers through robust, well-planned maintenance and upgrades.
