Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy Accuses BRS of Neglecting Krishna Basin Projects
In a significant development in Hyderabad, Telangana's irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has leveled serious allegations against the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. Speaking in the state assembly on Sunday, Reddy claimed that the BRS administration deliberately and willfully neglected crucial projects in the Krishna basin region, compromising agricultural development and water management across the state.
Debt Burden Slows Project Progress
The minister revealed that the current government has been unable to accelerate these irrigation projects at their desired pace due to a substantial debt burden inherited from the previous administration. According to Reddy, the BRS government secured high-cost, short-term loans totaling Rs 1.17 lakh crore, withdrawing approximately Rs 97,000 crore before the transition of power.
"After our government was formed, we replaced such loans with longer-term, lower-cost alternatives and have already repaid Rs 41,000 crore of the principal amount along with Rs 16,000 crore in interest," Reddy stated emphatically during his assembly address.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement
Reddy further accused the BRS government of squandering public funds on projects like Kaleshwaram, leaving the current administration with remaining liabilities of Rs 54,000 crore in principal and Rs 27,000 crore in interest payments. The minister emphasized that this financial mismanagement has directly impacted the state's ability to implement critical infrastructure projects efficiently.
Land Acquisition and Clearance Challenges
Beyond financial constraints, the irrigation minister highlighted that the previous government left several critical issues unresolved, particularly concerning land acquisition for development projects. "We have established a special package of Rs 5,000 crore specifically dedicated to land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, and other necessary clearances," Reddy announced.
He assured the assembly that the current government is committed to fast-tracking all pending projects and completing them within a targeted timeframe of two years, despite the inherited challenges.
Ration Card Distribution Improvements
In a related development, Reddy contrasted the current government's approach to public welfare with that of the previous administration regarding ration card distribution. The minister reported that the present government provides high-quality rice to 3.39 crore people through 1.05 crore ration cards, representing a significant increase from the BRS government's coverage of 2.82 crore people through 89 lakh ration card holders.
"The previous government issued only 6.47 lakh new ration cards over ten years while canceling 5.98 lakh cards during the same period," Reddy noted. "In contrast, our government maintains an ongoing, streamlined process for ration card issuance to ensure broader accessibility to essential food supplies."
The minister's statements underscore the current administration's focus on addressing inherited governance challenges while implementing measures to enhance public service delivery and infrastructure development across Telangana.
