Name SRSP after Telangana armed struggle leader Bheemireddy Narsimha Reddy

Hyderabad

A wide spectrum of senior journalists, writers, poets and social activists have urged the Telangana government to rename the Sriramsagar Project (SRSP) Phase-II canal after Telangana Armed Struggle giant Bheemireddy Narasimha Reddy, who spearheaded the struggle for bringing Godavari water to the drought-prone regions of Telangana.

A round-table organised at the Press Club in Hyderabad by ‘BN Thought Forum”, chaired by Sakshi editorial director Vardelli Murali and Telangana Sahitya Academy chairman Juluru Gowrishankar, on Wednesday, unanimously resolved that the government must revisit its decision on the canal’s naming as it would be a fitting tribute to the self-less fighter.

Speakers recalled that Bheemireddy fought relentlessly in undivided Andhra Pradesh to ensure irrigation for 4.40 lakh acres in Khammam, Warangal and Nalgonda districts under SRSP Phase-II. They said it was his “vision and struggle” that enabled Godavari waters to transform arid lands, making him the rightful figure to be honoured.

Speakers criticised what they described as the government’s “failure to recognise Telangana’s own history”, and said the neglect of B.N.’s legacy was unjust.

Kottagattu Mallayya, an SRSP activist, noted that people have long referred to the canal as “B.N. Reddy Canal” due to his prolonged fight in Parliament as well as on the ground.

Senior journalists Katta Shekhar Reddy and Tankashala Ashok said it was unfortunate that Telangana lacked memorials for its revolutionary struggles, while political parties remained silent, and that omission of B.N.’s name a “distortion of history”.

Prof. Vinayak Reddy called for inclusion of Telangana Armed Struggle history in the syllabus and establishment of a B.N. memorial in Hyderabad. MLC Goreti Venkanna said forgetting B.N.’s contribution was equivalent to “betraying Telangana”. Director N. Shankar urged the state to produce a film on B.N. through the Film Development Corporation (FDC). Senior jouranlists Allam Narayana, Ramachandra Murthy, R. Dileep Reddy, K Srinivas, S Vijay Kumar Reddy, R Ravikanth Reddy were among who spoke.

The meeting decided that all resolutions will be conveyed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, with district ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy urged to lead the effort. Demands adopted at the meeting include renaming SRSP Phase-II canal after Bheemireddy Narasimha Reddy, renaming Suryapet district after him, establishing a Bheemireddy Knowledge & Research Centre at Suryapet with 20 acres, setting up a Telangana Armed Struggle Memorial and Research Centre and installing a B.N. statue on Tank Bund.