Hyderabad: BJP senior leader Gudur Narayana Reddy on Saturday demanded immediate clearance of pending dues under the Nrusimha Sagar compensation issue, stating that unresolved payments have stalled the project’s utilisation.
He said authorities completed the Nrusimha Sagar Reservoir in 2023. However, the project has remained unused due to pending compensation, relief, and rehabilitation benefits. As a result, he said affected families continue to wait for justice.
The reservoir, earlier known as Basavapur Reservoir, stands in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district under the Kaleshwaram project. It has a storage capacity of about 11.39 TMC. Despite this, he said it has not served downstream areas.
He pointed out that major dues remain unpaid. These include around ₹150 crore for B N Timmapur village and ₹100 crore for Chokla Naik Thanda. In addition, about ₹7.5 crore linked to the HLMC canal at Bhongir is still pending.
Nrusimha Sagar compensation delays stall rehabilitation
Narayana Reddy said authorities cannot evacuate affected families until they clear compensation. Consequently, this has prevented the reservoir from becoming fully operational. He added that the project depends on gravity-based filling and needs adequate Godavari water.
He noted that constituencies such as Bhongir, Alair, Nakrekal, and parts of Nalgonda would benefit from irrigation and drinking water supply. However, delays have denied these gains so far.
He criticised the Congress government for not utilising available water. He said large volumes from the Godavari were flowing into the sea, leading to waste of resources and public money.
The BJP leader said displaced families from B S Timmapur and Chokla Naik Thanda have waited for years. Many received only partial payments, while others have not received any compensation.
He added that authorities have not fulfilled promises made during land acquisition. These include land-for-land, housing plots, and full rehabilitation support. Therefore, many families continue to face hardship and uncertainty.
Narayana Reddy said delays have created a dual setback. On one hand, displaced families face prolonged suffering. On the other, a major irrigation asset remains underutilised.
He urged the state government to clear all pending dues immediately. He also asked authorities to complete rehabilitation and make the reservoir operational to meet regional needs.
He warned that continued delay would worsen hardship and lead to further wastage of water and public funds. Additionally, he called for improved connectivity to boost tourism and employment. He recalled that Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao had earlier proposed developing the site into a tourism hub.
