Latest news with #N.UttamKumarReddy
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Former Air Force Pilot and Minister Uttam Reddy seeks transparency on reports of Rafale downed in Operation Sindoor
Hyderabad Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, also a retired Indian Air Force pilot, demanded full transparency from the Government of India regarding the losses suffered during the recent Operation Sindoor, particularly the reported downing of Rafale fighter jets. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, he pressed the BJP-led Government at the Centre to act urgently on the concerns raised by the Air Force chief about delays in aircraft supply, talent shortages, and the gap between sanctioned and operational squadrons. He referred to recent statements made by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh saying that these 'should concern us all.' He cited the warnings about severe delays in supply of fighter aircraft and weaponry, which, he said, were 'a serious problem for the Air Force.' He also cited the briefings of Air Marshal Bharti, Director General Air Operations, that the pilots returned safely while not denying claims of aircraft downed. Mr. Reddy also criticised the BJP government for initially denying these losses and launching a campaign against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. 'Now that the CDS himself has spoken, the government should stop the denials,' he said. 'We are proud of our armed forces, but transparency strengthens trust and helps us learn from every operation.' Mr. Reddy, a graduate from the National Defence Academy who flew MiG-21s and MiG-23s, reminded that during his tenure on the Parliamentary Defence Committee, he and his colleagues had repeatedly flagged India's operational fighter squadrons. He said they were below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, each with 16 to 18 aircraft. 'India currently has only 31 squadrons, which is substantially lower than required, especially when we face a collusive threat from both China and Pakistan.' Quoting the Air Chief Marshal, Mr. Reddy said, 'India has fallen behind China in defence technology and production, even as our training standards remain superior.' He stressed that this should be of 'serious concern,' and urged the government to take necessary corrective steps. Mr. Reddy pointed out that the Air Force currently needs 35 to 40 fighter jets annually, but HAL, which is contracted to supply 24 fighter aircraft per year, has failed to deliver that. 'The Air Chief has also flagged a deeper malaise, contracts signed with unrealistic deadlines that vitiate the procurement process and erode institutional trust,' he said.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Desiltation of SRSP, Kadem and other projects will be taken up to restore original storage capacity: Uttam
Stating that the storage capacity of the Sriramsagar Project (SRSP) has dwindled due to accumulation of silt, Minister for Civil Supplies and Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that desilting and dredging works will be taken up in adherence to modern techniques. Similarly, desiltation of Kadem and other projects will be taken up by using modern methods to enhance their storage capacity, he said while addressing a review meeting with the officials of Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jagtial and Rajanna Sircilla districts in Karimnagar on Thursday. IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, and Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar were present. The meeting had reviewed the implementation of Indiramma Housing Scheme, the Bhu Bharati initiative, paddy procurement and preparations for Kharif season, officials said. Mr. Reddy said the MLAs and MPs concerned will be involved in the exercise of devising the action plans for the release of water for Kharif season. Telangana achieved a record-breaking paddy production of over 130 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in around 60 lakh acres in Yasangi (rabi) season. He added that an amount of Rs 13,000 crore has been paid to farmers towards Yasangi paddy procurement till May 28, 2025. During the same period in 2023, only Rs 3,500 crore was paid to farmers under the previous BRS government, he said. Congress strengthened the Irrigation sector appointing 1100 engineers and 1800 Laskars. He asked Jagtial Collector to consult the officials concerned to speed up the process of obtaining forest clearance for the Rollavagu project. He said the Narayanapuram reservoir, Kondagattu lift irrigation scheme and Kalikota Suramma projects will be completed in an expeditious manner. He said all the leaders should cooperate with the judicial commission probing the Medigadda barrage incident. Appropriate action will be taken based on the judicial commission report, he added.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP slams govt. over KLIS repair costs, demands recovery from errant parties
HYDERABAD BJP Chief Whip and Sirpur MLA Palvai Harish Babu has demanded clarification from Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy regarding the cost incurred for repair and restoration of the Medigadda Barrage and other barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). According to Mr. Harish Babu, contractors involved in the project, including L&T-PES and Afcons, have written a letter demanding that the government bear the entire cost of renovation. In a statement here on Sunday, he warned that if the government bears the entire cost of reconstruction without exposing the corruption, it will burden people. The estimated repair cost will be around ₹10,000 crore, he said. The contractors are demanding reimbursement for work to be done as per NDSA recommendations, which could cost up to ₹40 crore. Mr. Harish Babu also slammed BRS leaders, including former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, for reportedly refusing to attend the Judicial Commission's inquiry into the fiasco. He also demanded action against companies involved in the project, and sought recovery of funds from responsible parties. Government should stop the final bill payment for Medigadda Barrage until KLIP's restoration is complete, he said.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Transfer of civil supplies assets between TG and AP comes to the fore yet again
Transfer of assets of the Civil Supplies Corporation of the erstwhile united State has come to the fore yet again. A meeting between Minister for Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Nadendla Manohar on Friday focussed on the phased transfer of assets pertaining to the Civil Supplies departments of the two Telugu States. The meeting deliberated on whether to allow the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation to use half of the Civil Supplies Bhavan currently allotted to the A.P. Civil Supplies Corporation. The building lies unused. 'The primary dispute between the two States is about the reimbursement of the subsidy amount pertaining to Telangana having been credited into the account of Andhra Pradesh by the Centre,' a senior officer dealing with the State Reorganisation Affairs told The Hindu on condition of anonymity. While the neighbouring State is harping on the recommendations of the Sheila Bhide Committee on apportionment of the assets between the two States, the Telangana government is firm that the cash credit due to it should be reimbursed. The issue assumes significance as the assets of the Civil Supplies Corporation, including the Civil Supplies Bhavan, would come under the control of the Telangana government in line with the provisions under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the response from Andhra Pradesh on the transfer of assets located in Telangana to the State government was positive. The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation between the Telugu States on issues like rice exports. Telangana has officially begun exports to the Philippines through the Kakinada Port, with Andhra Pradesh extending critical support in port operations, storage and export procedures. Andhra Pradesh also offered its Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam ports for future consignments. 'This is not a matter of jurisdiction, but of mutual growth. Andhra Pradesh is happy to extend full support for Telangana's rice exports. Our ports are open to facilitate this shared economic activity,' said Mr. Nadendla Manohar.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Those responsible for failure of Kaleshwaram Barrages can't escape punishment: Minister Uttam Reddy
HYDERABAD If any government in the State had harmed the interests of farmers and people, including in the irrigation sector, it was that of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) during the 2014-23 period, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged here on Friday. The Minister also condemned the remarks of BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, who blamed the Congress for the damage suffered by the Medigadda Barrage of the Kaleshwaram project and reasoned that it could be out of fear to appear before the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission of Inquiry into the irregularities in the project. 'They are shivering with the instance of just getting notices from the inquiry Commission. In case they had not committed anything wrong, why are they hesitating to depose before the judicial panel?', he said, adding that if at all they had any suspicion of bombs for the barrage damage, they could as well tell it before the Commission. Besides, it was BRS that was in power when the damage had taken place, and they could have revealed the conspiracy. They were shamelessly trying to cover up their mistakes, and the correspondence between the irrigation department and the work agency L&T shows that the barrage had problems from the beginning. He explained that the Congress government had instituted a judicial probe to find the facts and take action as per law. The CAG, NDSA and Vigilance had all faulted the lapses in every stage of their execution, he noted. Referring to the Pranahita-Chevella project taken up by the previous Congress in 2007, he said it was planned with ₹38,000 crore and ₹10,000 crore was spent on canals. Only one lift could have brought water from Tummidihatti Barrage to Yellampally reservoir with 100 km of gravity flow. The network thereafter was included in the Pranahita Chevella project itself and the same was executed as part of Kaleshwaram. Of the ₹1 lakh crore spent so far on Kaleshwaram, ₹62,000 crore could have been saved and it could have been used for completing Palamuru-Rangareddy, Devadula, SLBC, Dindi, Sita Rama, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Koilsagar, Bhima and others. He reminded that the CAG report had termed Kaleshwaram as a 'white elephant' for Telangana. The Minister reiterated that those responsible cannot escape punishment as their mistakes had cost the State ₹21,000 crore spent on the Link-I of the Kaleshwaram project, which comprises three barrages and their pump houses to carry water to Yellampalli.
