Harish Rao Writes to Uttam Over Siddipet Funding & Pending Promises

In a letter to Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, former minister T. Harish Rao demanded Rs 30 crore for the Ananthagiri Sagar and Ranganayaka Sagar projects in the Siddipet district, claiming that the Congress government has neglected important irrigation projects.

Siddipet: In order to allow officials to begin land acquisition and work on minor and sub-minor canals, former Minister T Harish Rao urged that Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy approve Rs 15 crore each for Ananthagiri Sagar and Ranganayaka Sagar.

Harish Rao stated that the two projects’ combined Rs 30 crore award would assist in expanding the ayacut by one lakh acres in a letter sent to the irrigation minister on Tuesday. He claimed he had contacted the Irrigation Minister multiple times and written multiple letters requesting the funding, but he had received no response. He accused the Congress government of disregarding his repeated demands.

In reference to the Congress government’s catchphrase, “less expenditure and more irrigation,” Rao claimed that it was unable to provide even Rs 30 crore, which would have allowed Siddipet district to irrigate one lakh acres. He claimed that between 2020 and 2023, the BRS administration completed canal and distributary works under Ananthagiri Sagar and Ranganayaka Sagar, bringing one lakh acres under irrigation. However, he said that the current government made no attempts to further enhance the ayacut.

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Additionally, Rao noted that water from the two projects was discharged into check dams, lakes, streams, and canals every Yasangi season during the BRS era. Additionally, he said that Mallanna Sagar, Kondapochamma Sagar, Ranganayaka Sagar, and Ananthagiri Sagar—which he referred to as Siddipet’s lifelines—were being utterly ignored by the Congress government.

Harish Rao criticizes the Congress government for unfulfilled promises, outstanding debts, and employee benefits.

In the Telangana Assembly, BRS MLA T Harish Rao chastised the Congress government for not implementing the Pay Revision Commission, releasing retirement benefits, reinstating the Old Pension Scheme, and providing employee welfare, which affected both active and retired employees, including police officers.

Hyderabad: T Harish Rao, a senior BRS MLA, harshly criticized the Congress administration on Monday, accusing it of betraying government workers by not keeping important commitments even after two years in office. He questioned the Pay Revision Commission’s (PRC) implementation, the Old Pension Scheme’s (OPS) restoration, and the excessive wait in the disbursement of retirement payments.

Harish Rao stated during Zero Hour in the State Assembly that the Congress had promised to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), discharge outstanding arrears and Dearness Allowance (DA), and immediately implement the Pay Revision Commission (PRC).

“Even after two years, none of these promises have been kept. He urged Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to promptly refund arrears to both active and retired staff, saying that workers are being misled.

The BRS senator emphasized the crucial role that government workers play in efficient governance, stating that if workers were forced into hardship, welfare services and governance would collapse. He emphasized that while the PRC was still unimplemented, Telangana was in an unusual scenario with six DAs waiting.

He recalled that during the BRS tenure, PRCs of 43 percent and 39 percent were implemented, and the Employees Health Scheme (EHS) was rolled out through a government order.

“EHS was promised by the Congress in its manifesto, but it hasn’t been implemented,” he claimed.

Harish Rao expressed concern about elderly workers, stating that around 39 retired workers have passed away as a result of sorrow brought on by unpaid bills. He gave the example of a retired veterinary officer who approached the High Court but has not gotten any compensation months after retiring.

Additionally, he said that payments under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) were being siphoned, jeopardizing the future of about two lakh employees, and accused the government of failing to take action on OPS.

Harish Rao turned to the police department and stated that approximately one lakh employees were affected by delayed surrender leaves, TA, DA, and station allowances. He said that the police health insurance program had been limited and called for its reinstatement along with corporate hospital access.

Additionally, he encouraged the Speaker to guarantee formal responses to concerns brought up during Zero Hour, failing which the exercise would be pointless.