K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
Heated arguments took place on Saturday between CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Finance Minister Harish Rao regarding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) in the Assembly during the debate on demands for irrigation projects.
Bhatti Vikramarka said the BRS government spent a huge amount on the Kaleshwaram Project. The government is not providing water even though it constructed a barrage for irrigating 18 lakh acres.
He said the BRS government has been claiming that people across the nation and the world had seen the project. But the government is not allowing Congress leaders to see the submerged pumps. He asked to why the government is not giving permission to them although it allows foreigners.
Criticising the Speaker for disconnecting his mic, Bhatti asked if it is correct on the part of the Chair to give a chance to treasury benches by disconnecting the mic of opposition parties. “It is like tying us up and asking them to beat us,” Bhatti said.
Asking the government to explain about the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel work, Bhatti said the Chief Minister is saying something but Harish is saying something else.
Countering Bhatti’s comments, Harish said that BRS leaders are not flogging Congress leaders but Congress leaders flogging themselves.
“I am ready to take you personally to the Kaleshwaram Project if you are ready. We did not allow Bhatti during the floods fearing that Bhatti may slip in the mud,” he said.
Harish said that Congress leaders felt happy thinking that the Kaleshwaram project drowned in the floods but that is common during natural calamities. “We made the agency repair the Kaleshwaram pump sets without spending a single penny,” he said.
Harish said the government is providing water to seven lakh acres in Palamuru district. The credit of solving the problems of Palamuru goes to the BRS government. We provided water to five lakh acres by spending Rs 3600 crore,” he said.
