Hyderabad, June 27 (RAHNUMA): Former minister and BRS deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao strongly criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing him of compromising Telangana’s legitimate rights over Krishna and Godavari waters for political interests while projecting the recent three-state meeting at Tungabhadra as a historic achievement.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, Harish Rao said the Chief Minister’s lack of understanding of river water issues has become a serious threat to Telangana’s future.
He alleged that while the BRS government fought relentlessly and secured approvals for major irrigation projects, the present Congress government was surrendering Telangana’s interests before the Centre and neighbouring states.
Harish Rao questioned the celebrations over the replacement of gates at the Tungabhadra Dam, stating that Telangana’s real concern was securing its rightful share of river waters, not symbolic events.
He pointed out that Karnataka is moving ahead with the proposed 35 TMC Naveli Reservoir upstream of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), while Andhra Pradesh is planning the 20 TMC Gundrevula Project downstream of RDS. Together, these projects would enable the two states to impound nearly 55 TMC of water, severely affecting inflows into Srisailam Reservoir and jeopardising irrigation projects dependent on it, including the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project, he said.
Harish Rao said that despite these serious developments, the Telangana government failed to oppose either project or safeguard the State’s interests.
The BRS leader questioned whether the Chief Minister had secured any concrete assurance regarding Telangana’s rightful 15.90 TMC allocation under the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme, permanent closure of unauthorised Andhra Pradesh outlets on RDS, or repairs to the RDS canal system and dam.
He also sought an explanation from the Chief Minister on what transpired during the closed-door meeting attended only by the Chief Ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka along with a senior Union Water Resources official, while Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior State irrigation officials were reportedly kept outside.
Harish Rao alleged that Karnataka has already taken up construction of three unauthorised barrages on the Tungabhadra River without statutory approvals. He questioned why the Telangana government neither objected before the Central government nor approached the Krishna River Management Board despite construction progressing substantially.
He accused Revanth Reddy of remaining silent while neighbouring states proceeded with projects detrimental to Telangana’s water security.
Harish Rao further criticised the Congress government for failing to secure fresh approvals for Telangana’s pending irrigation projects.
He expressed concern over reports that the proposed Godavari river-linking plans could bypass Telangana’s interests and jeopardise important projects such as Sammakka Sagar, which is expected to irrigate nearly four lakh acres in Warangal and Nalgonda districts.
