The much-awaited Palamur Lift scheme works in backward Mahabubnagar district was today kick-started with Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao laying foundation stone here.
Along with ministers Jupally Krishna Rao, Dr C Lakshma Reddy, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Niranjan Reddy and MLAs, Harish Rao unveiled a pylon at Narlapur in the district. Addressing a public meeting at Yedula village later, Harish Rao vowed to turn the parched lands of Palamur into green by sparing abundant waters. Announcing Rs 2 crore package for Yedula, he said all projects in the district will be completed on a war-footing as per Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s directive to work extra hours to bring under ayacut 20 lakh acre in Mahbubnagar.
Harish said Palamur-Ranga Reddy project will be rechristened as “Anjanagiri” and the project will be taken up only after land acquisition and helping evacuees get two bedroom houses. Efforts will be made to restore past glory of greenery in the district, which was known for contributing major share of food grains in the State, he said.
Taking a dig at the Opposition parties, Harish Rao said the Telugu Desam party was trying to create hurdles to the project by writing letters to the Centre. The Congress was also coming in the way of the project, which however, will go ahead with fast pace of works, he asserted. The irrigation minister accused the previous governments of failing to complete the project for many decades. Now that the TRS being at helm of affairs is all set for completing the Palamur project in a record time by pumping in huge funds.
Harish Rao also accused the Congress leader D K Aruna of supporting then Kiran Kumar Reddy Government to divert waters to Handri-Nneeva. Harish Rao said the Opposition was making a hue and cry fearing that they will have no future if the project was completed. The project, on completion, will irrigate 10 lakh acres in Mahbubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts. It is said the plan is to complete the works in two months and finally to draw 69 tmc waters by completing five reservoirs. (NSS)