CM Revanth Reddy faces criticism over Krishna water remarks

Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy’s contradictory claims on River Krishna water sharing have drawn sharp criticism from BRS leaders and citizens. His varying assertions on the State’s share, ranging from 763 to 951 tmcft, have raised concerns over irrigation policy

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s poor knowledge of the irrigation sector, especially on River Krishna water sharing, got exposed yet again. His contradictory assertions over Telangana’s share in the River Krishna waters are drawing severe criticism from different sections.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister contradicted his own statements and assertions over the State’s share in the river waters.

---

In June this year, the Chief Minister had demanded his counterpart from Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu to issue NOC for using 1000 tmcft in River Godavari and 500 tmcft in River Krishna.

These demands triggered strong criticism from former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, who slammed the Congress government for its negligence in protecting Telangana’s share.

“Telangana already has hydrological clearances from the Central Water Commission for using 946 tmcft in River Godavari for projects in the State,” Harish Rao pointed out, exposing the Chief Minister’s poor command over the irrigation sector.

Similarly, on September 13, the Chief Minister made another assertion of 904 tmcft share in River Krishna for Telangana. Contradicting his own assertion on September 24, the Chief Minister again claimed Telangana’s share of 763 tmcft in Krishna water.

Continuing his inconsistent stand over the river water share, the Chief Minister this month made a new demand before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal to allot 951 tmcft in the River Krishna basin.

The BRS working president KT Rama Rao has been highlighting these inconsistencies, particularly the Chief Minister’s contradictory stand on River Krishna water shares.

“Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has zero knowledge of river waters impacting Telangana’s share and interests. He continues to remain dangerously ignorant in irrigation issues,” Rama Rao said while addressing party workers in Nalgonda on Tuesday.

Like the strong counters from the BRS, people from different sections are also criticizing the Chief Minister for his “command” over the irrigation sector and river water shares.

Sharing news report clippings of contradictory statements made by Revanth Reddy on X, Nayini Anurag Reddy, an entrepreneur, asked: “Every time the Chief Minister speaks, there’s a new number. If they themselves don’t know what they are asking for, who do you expect to take us seriously?”

“And in all this confusion, it’s not them who lose. It’s the people of Telangana,” he stressed.