BRS hits back at Jupally over Srisailam water, liquor remarks

The BRS criticised Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao over remarks concerning Srisailam water and liquor production. Harish Rao alleged the government prioritised liquor revenue, while Krishna Rao said his remarks were misquoted and concerned drawing water into the Dindi project.

Hyderabad: The BRS took strong exception to Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao’s statement that the government would use Srisailam project water for liquor production. The party ridiculed the government’s explanation that El Nino had caused power cuts and a shortage of irrigation water, but had not affected liquor production.

“El Nino appeared to affect electricity and irrigation for farmers but not liquor production and sales,” BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao said, alleging that the Revanth Reddy government was more concerned about increasing liquor revenue than addressing farmers’ and people’s welfare.

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However, Krishna Rao countered, stating that his remarks had been misquoted by a section of the media as saying that the government would use Srisailam project water for liquor production. He claimed he had only said it would benefit Telangana if water were drawn into the Dindi project from the Srisailam backwaters rather than the Yedula reservoir. He went on to accuse the previous BRS government of pushing liquor sales for higher excise revenue.