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Former Minister and BRS leader Harish Rao has blamed "negligence and slow action" by the Telangana government for the recent breach of the Pedda Vagu project near Gummadivalli in the Aswaraopeta mandal, which washed away the embankment and caused alleged losses of Rs 100 crore.
Rao emphasised that the disaster could have been prevented if the district collector and irrigation officials had acted on farmers' warnings and opened the project gates in time. "Why were the gates not opened even as water overflowed for four to five hours? Why were only two of the three gates eventually lifted?" he asked. "Who would have taken responsibility if the breach had flooded Gummadivalli village and endangered hundreds of tribals?" he added in a press release on Saturday. The Pedda Vagu project, located in Telangana and supervised by irrigation officials from Bhadradri Kothagudem district, suffered a major breach this week, causing severe damage to the villages of Gummadivalli, Rangapuram, Koyarangapuram, Buchuwarigudem, and Narayanapuram. In addition to crop destruction, there was also significant livestock loss. Harish Rao condemned the Telangana government's response, claiming the two-day delay by ministers in addressing the breach. He criticised the combined Khammam district, which has three ministers, for their lack of immediate action. To support the affected farmers, Rao demanded compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for sand deposits and Rs 10,000 per acre for crop losses. He also called for the free supply of seeds and fertilisers for alternative crop cultivation and immediate assistance from the natural calamity fund for those who lost livestock. Additionally, he insisted on a high-level inquiry to determine the causes of the incident and to prevent future occurrences. Immediate support is urgently needed for the affected farmers, Harish Rao said. A thorough investigation must be conducted to ensure accountability and prevent future disasters. (ANI)
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