Water flowed to AP while farmers wept : BRS slams Telangana govt

BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao on Tuesday, August 25, accused the Congress government in Telangana of deliberately sidelining the Kaleshwaram project for political reasons and alleged that its failure to utilise Godavari water was leaving farmers facing a potential water crisis.

Reacting to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) affidavit submitted before the Telangana High Court, Harish Rao said the Central authority had made it clear that water from the Kaleshwaram project could be lifted depending on requirements.

He also cited reports of the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), claiming that no structural problems were found in any block of the Annaram and Sundilla barrages and that the concrete quality was satisfactory.

Harish Rao demanded that the Annaram and Sundilla pumps be operated immediately to lift Godavari water and fill reservoirs.

“The Revanth Reddy government is deliberately keeping Kaleshwaram aside due to political vendetta and allowing Godavari River water to flow downstream instead of using it for Telangana’s farmers,” he alleged.

The former irrigation minister said the government switched on the Devadula project and Nandi pumps only after repeated demands from the BRS, by which time much of the floodwater had already flowed downstream. He alleged that the pumps were later shut down.

“Water was released to Andhra Pradesh while Telangana farmers were left with tears,” he said.

Harish Rao claimed that reservoir storage in Telangana stood at 35.6 per cent, against the national average of 64.16 per cent, and warned of an impending water crisis.

He accused the government of failing to manage water resources despite repeated warnings about El Nino and possible drought conditions. Telangana, which he claimed had overcome water shortages during the K Chandrashekhar Rao government, was now being pushed back into water distress, he alleged.

The BRS leader also questioned the government's focus on appointing commissions and conducting inquiries instead of conserving and utilising Godavari and Krishna river waters for farmers.

“This is not the time for politics,” Harish Rao said, urging the government to focus on project management, Telangana's water rights and farmers' interests instead of political disputes.