Kaleshwaram Project inaugurated, dedicated to nation

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday inaugurated the Kaleswaram Project aimed at supplying water to 45 Lakh acres in Telangana.

On the dot at 11.23 am at Medigadda Barrage, the CM unveiled the plaque dedicating the project to the nation. At 11.26 AM Medigadda Barrage was launched. At 1.07 PM He had switched on the Kannepally Pump House. Pumping of water started at 1.15 Pm from the pump House. With the Himalayan task of diverting River Godavari waters to the parched lands of Telangana through the Multi-stage multi-purpose Kaleswaram project was put to use.

In this programme, Telangana state and AP Governor ESL Narasimhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, AP Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Telangana State Ministers Etela Rajender, Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Indrakaran Reddy, Srinivas Goud, AP Ministers Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, Anil Kumar Yadav, Telangana State Chief Secretary SK Joshi, DGP Mahender Reddy, IG Nagireddy, Maharashtra DGP Jaiswal, MPs J Santosh Kumar, B Venkatesh Neta, Whip Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MLAs D Sridhar Babu, G Venkatramana Reddy, ZP Chairperson Tula Uma, former Speaker Madhusudhan Chary, Irrigation E-in-Cs Muralidhar Rao, Hareram, Venkateswarlu, SPDCL CMD Gopal Rao, Transco Director Suryaprakash, Jayashankar Bhoopalpally Collector Vasam Venkateswarlu and others participated.

Earlier, at Medigadda Barrage, Kannepally Pump House, Vedic scholars from the Srungeri Peetham performed Jalayasaya Prathisthanga Yagam, Jala Sankalpa Mahostavam. The Yagam ended with the Poornahuthi with Vedic rituals and chanting of hymns. On the occasion, the Vedic Scholars have blessed the three Chief Ministers and the Governor. At Medigadda Yagam CM KCR and his wife, at Kannepally pump house Yagam, Minister Dayakar Rao and his wife performed the rituals. Minister Niranjan Reddy launched the Annaram Barrage, Home Minister Mahmood Ali, Annaram Pump House, Minister Koppula Eswar launched Sundilla Barrage and Pump House, Minister Mallareddy started Medaram Pump House while Minister Jagdeesh Reddy launched Laxmipur Pump House.

CM and Governor walk around the Barrage

CM KCR has launched the Medigadda barrage after cutting the ribbon. He also inaugurated the bridge constructed across Godavari between Telangana and Maharashtra states. The three CMs and Governor went up to the Maharashtra border travelling by car on the bridge. They have inspected the water storage inside the barrage.

CM KCR explained the method by which the importance of the project was identified for the greater utilisation of Godavari water. He also explained to them detail how water will be supplied to the Telangana state from Medigadda Barrage. He said the historic agreement Telangana State reached with the Maharashtra state was the key factor. He also thanked Maharashtra CM Fadnavis for all the support and cooperation he had extended to the project.

At Kannepally Pump House inauguration, the CM took the Governor and the two CMs to base level to show them the pumps, their capacity and usage. Mega Engineering owner Sri Krishna Reddy explained to the guests' specialty of the construction.

Historic meeting of the three CMs

With disputes regarding water sharing among the riparian states as well as several nations in the world, it is, indeed an historic even at the Kaleswaram project inauguration that three riparian States CMs took part amidst an atmosphere of bonhomie. Due to disputes with the Maharashtra government, under the united AP State, none of the Telangana projects could make any step further. There were disputed between the Telangana State and AP till recently. The then AP government put hurdles on the water sharing issues.

CM KCR had a diplomatic and friendly relationship with the Maharashtra government when the Telangana State formed and also extended the same to Jaganmohan Reddy's government, which came to power recently.

They have come to an understanding that instead of wasting thousands of TMC of Godavari water into the sea, it is better to utilise at the optimal level every year by building projects. Against this backdrop that the three CMs have met at the Kaleswaram project inauguration.

CM felicitated guests and bankers

CM KCR has befittingly felicitated ESL Narasimhan, Devendra Fadnavis, and Jaganmohan Reddy and presented them with mementos. Sri KCR, who gave them a warm welcome when these guests arrived, gave them an affectionate send off by walking upto the waiting Choppers.

The CM also felicitated the bankers who extended the financial support to the project. They included, Andhra Bank CEO and MD J Packrisamy, Indian Bank Executive Director MK Bhattacharya, REC Limited Director (technical) SK Gupta, Power Finance Corporation Director (Communications) PK Singh, Allahabad Bank Executive Director K Ramachandra, Oriental Bank of Commerce Executive Director Balakrishna Alse, Bank of Maharashtra Executive Director Hemant kumar Tamta, Punjab National Bank General manager Binod Kumar, NABARD CGM Vijay Kumar, Corporation Bank DGM and Zonal head MJ Ashok, United Bank of India Branch head SV Ramakrishna, Andhra Bank general manager Syamal Ghosh Ray, Punjab national Bank AGM Mohammed Maqsood Ali, Indian Bank zonal manager R Manohar and others.

Telangana Government Chief Secretary SK Joshi said today will be written in golden letters as it is the day when the Kaleswaram Project is inaugurated within a short span of three years. He spoke on the occasion of felicitating the guests and Bankers. He expressed happiness that the dream of the CM of cultivating bumper crops in Telangana State is becoming a reality. Joshi thanked everyone who took part in the project work.