Centre’s bias continues: No national status for Telangana’s key irrigation projects

The Centre’s discrimination against Telangana, as Banakacherla proves, continues with no national project status granted to either Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme or Kaleshwaram, despite repeated appeals by the State

Hyderabad: The manner in which the Centre has thrown its full weight behind the Banakacherla project of Andhra Pradesh, despite all the opposition by Telangana, has once again made it clear that the BJP-led Union government is not inclined to help the country’s youngest State despite all its achievements.

The Centre’s discrimination against Telangana, as the Banakacherla episode proves, continues to spill into the irrigation sector, with no national project status granted to either the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLRI) or the Kaleshwaram project, despite repeated appeals by the State.

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Telangana has been pressing for national status for either PLRI or Kaleshwaram, the world’s largest lift irrigation project, for several years. The pleas, however, have largely been ignored by the Centre, despite the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act promising national status to one major irrigation project in the State.

Back in 2019, after the Union Budget was presented, former Minister KT Rama Rao had lashed out at the BJP-led government for its indifference to Telangana’s appeals.

“Telangana has repeatedly demanded national project status for either Kaleshwaram or Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation on various forums. No mention or no acknowledgement. Are Telangana’s projects not in the interest of our nation?” he had asked then Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on X.

While Telangana’s demands continue to be ignored, projects in other States have found favour with the Centre. The Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh was granted national status, as were the Upper Bhadra project in Karnataka and the Ken-Betwa Link Project in Madhya Pradesh.

Five years on, the Centre’s bias remains unchanged. Following this year’s Union Budget, Rama Rao again questioned the rationale behind the continued neglect. “How do Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh projects get national project status while Telangana’s projects are ignored?” he asked.

Despite eight BJP MPs being elected from Telangana, the Centre has shown little interest in addressing the State’s concerns. The MPs have come under fire for blindly following the BJP central leadership and failing to stand up for Telangana’s rights.

Adding to the contradiction, Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari had stated in the Lok Sabha in 2018 that the Centre had decided not to grant national project status to any new irrigation projects. Yet, Karnataka, ruled by the BJP at the time, managed to secure national project status for the Upper Bhadra scheme.

In 2022, then Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that a high-powered committee of the Centre had accorded national status to the Upper Bhadra project, entitling the State to Rs 12,500 crore in assistance.

In contrast, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil stated that Upper Bhadra was not included under any existing Central scheme and ruled out funding for the project. However, he added that the Ministry’s Committee had found the project techno-economically viable and recommended Rs 5,300 crore in central assistance.

While Karnataka has managed to secure funding for Upper Bhadra, Telangana’s PLRI and Kaleshwaram continue to be denied any such support, with no end to the blatant discrimination by the BJP-led Centre in sight.

Blatant Neglect

• Telangana’s requests for national project status for PLRI and Kaleshwaram repeatedly ignored by the Centre
• Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act promises national status for one irrigation project in Telangana, but remains unfulfilled
• Centre granted national project status to Polavaram in Andhra Pradesh, Upper Bhadra in Karnataka and Ken-Betwa in Madhya Pradesh
• KTR has criticised BJP-led Union government multiple times over bias against Telangana
• Despite electing eight BJP MPs, Telangana continues to face neglect from Centre on key irrigation issues
• Contradiction evident as Karnataka receives funding for Upper Bhadra even after Centre claimed it would not grant new national statuses