After PRLIS, BRS turns focus to Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme

BRS leaders alleged that works being undertaken by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme could affect Telangana's water share. They demanded immediate intervention by the State government and accused it of failing to protect the interests of Mahabubnagar farmers.

Mahabubnagar: After targeting the Congress government over delays in the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation (PRLI) Scheme, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has shifted its focus to the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), alleging that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were taking up works that could affect Telangana’s water share.

A delegation of BRS public representatives, including former Ministers, visited the RDS on Wednesday and inspected what they described as unauthorised works being carried out by the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments.

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Speaking on the occasion, former Minister V Srinivas Goud alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to deprive Mahabubnagar district, which is heavily dependent on agriculture, of its share of water.

He claimed that while the Palamuru-Rangareddy project remained incomplete, the Chief Ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had colluded to harm Telangana’s interests. According to him, the flow of water into the Left Canal had been blocked, affecting not only the Nadigadda region but also the entire erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.

Srinivas Goud demanded that the three Chief Ministers disclose the issues discussed during their recent meeting. He also alleged that Aditya Nath Das had been appointed as an advisor to facilitate the diversion of Telangana’s water.

“In the past, we prevented attempts to break the sluice gates and divert water to Sunkesula through the Right Canal. Now, the required works have been completed to divert the water,” he alleged.

Former Minister C Laxma Reddy claimed that the Andhra Pradesh government was attempting to construct the Right Canal.

He said the previous BRS government had completed the Thummilla Lift Irrigation Project as promised, but alleged that the exploitation of Tungabhadra river waters was turning the RDS command area into a desert. “Not a single drop of water will flow downstream. Unfortunately, the Congress government is remaining a passive spectator,” Laxma Reddy alleged.

He further claimed that there was information that Revanth Reddy had granted no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for other projects while seeking an NOC for the Kodangal project, which he described as unnecessary.

Laxma Reddy demanded that a team of State Ministers visit the site and protect the interests of the Mahabubnagar region. He warned that if no action was taken, the Chief Minister’s home district would be the first to face injustice.