Hyderabad: BRS leader T. Harish Rao raised concerns over irrigation projects operations and alleged irregular handling of motors in major lift irrigation schemes in a letter to Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
He flagged frequent switching on and off of heavy motors in Kaleshwaram and Devadula projects. According to him, such practices violated engineering norms and risked damaging key equipment. As a result, he questioned whether the actions were deliberate or due to administrative lapses.
Harish Rao warned that repeated operational changes could create vibrations and lead to failure of pumps, impellers and motors. He also asked if the issue reflected negligence or an attempt to shift blame onto the previous BRS government.
Risks linked to irrigation projects operations highlighted
The former minister said the motors were designed for continuous operation. Therefore, repeated stoppages could cause technical damage. He criticised the handling of projects built with thousands of crores of public funds and termed it irresponsible.
In particular, he pointed to Chandlapur and packages 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12, where he said the operational pattern raised concern. He urged authorities to immediately stop such unscientific practices and follow proper engineering standards.
He stressed that officials must run pumps continuously as per design specifications. Moreover, he cautioned against politicising irrigation systems, noting their importance for farmers across Telangana.
