Congress, TRS leaders clash over KLI water release in Kollapur

Nagarkurnool: The release of Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (MGKLI) water through the heavy lifting pump motors at Yellur reservoir in Kollapur mandal has lead to a dispute between the local Congress and the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders on Thursday. 

The main reason for the dispute is that when the engineers of the Yellur reservoir decided to inaugurate the launch of lifting of the irrigation water from Krishna river to Yellur reservoir as per the protocol, the local MLA was to inaugurate the launch.

However, as the MLA was late for about 20 minutes, taking the advantage, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders who were present on the occasion pressurised the engineers of the project and along with the local ZPTC and MPP switched on the lift irrigation project motors without waiting for the MLA to reach the venue.

As soon as the Congress leaders came to know about the issue, some of them stormed the pump house and control room and entered into an argument with the irrigation officials and the TRS leaders, which lead to a verbal fight between the two groups. 

Later when the MLA reached the spot, his supporters and other local Congress leaders picked up a fight with the TRS leaders and threatened the project authorities for not following the protocols and breaching the rules.  

Speaking to media, MLA Beeram Harshavardhan Reddy said, “Just because the TRS government is in power, the officials are being pressurised by the TRS leaders and not allowing them to follow the protocols. We have registered our protest for not following the protocols and we also condemn the attitude of local TRS leaders.”

However, the TRS leaders blamed the Congress MLA for coming late to the inauguration which will lead to shortage of time period as the motors need to be kept running for a stipulated period only. 

The MLA who was supposed to come at 10.00 am did not come to the spot and one hour late running of the pump motor would lead to loss of water to the reservoir as the motors were permitted to run for only a stipulated amount of time as directed by the higher authorities, observed the TRS leaders.