Harish Rao blames Congress for drought, questions GO 17 over farm power

BRS leader T Harish Rao accused Telangana’s Congress government of worsening drought by failing to utilise river water, complete irrigation works and maintain farm power. He cited GO 17, criticised delayed farmer benefits and demanded immediate advance Rythu Bandhu payments.

Hyderabad: BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao on Wednesday accused the Congress government of triggering drought conditions in Telangana by failing to utilise available river water, complete pending irrigation works and ensure adequate power supply to farmers. He demanded free seeds, advance Rythu Bandhu payments, implementation of the Rs 12,000 annual Indiramma Athmiya Bharosa assistance for farm labourers and more employment days.

“The Chief Minister who claims to be son of Palamuru, failed to fulfil his duty and ensure adequate water to people of the region. Instead, he successfully revived migration of farmers from Palamuru and brought back pre-Telangana State formation days,” he added.

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During his visit to Mahabubnagar district, Harish Rao alleged that the crisis was not caused by El Niño but by the government’s inefficiency. He contrasted Telangana’s situation with Andhra Pradesh, alleging that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was transporting Krishna River water over 700 km to Kuppam and supplying Rayalaseema through the Velugonda project. He questioned why Telangana farmers faced a crop holiday while water was being utilised in the neighbouring State.

“Not El Nino, but the Congress government’s inefficiency in utilising available water is to be blamed for the drought condition in the State,” he said, accusing the Congress government of failing to secure Telangana’s rightful share of Krishna River water.

He said the previous BRS government had built reservoirs, tunnels, pump houses and substations to store and lift 50 TMCft of water under the Palamuru-Rangareddy project. However, he said works under Package III, which could have been completed in three months, had remained unfinished for three years. “Had the Congress government completed them, Telangana could have stored 50 TMCft and prevented the present crisis,” he said.

Harish Rao alleged that farmers were facing low voltage, burnt transformers and inadequate power for irrigation. He said the government had reduced supply from 24 hours to six or seven hours and cited GO 17, which provides for a separate Rythu Discom relying on solar power, as evidence that round-the-clock free power was being abandoned. He challenged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to clarify whether farmers would continue to receive 24-hour free power supply.

The BRS Legislature Party deputy leader also accused the government of defaulting on loan waivers, withholding Rythu Bandhu payments for three crop seasons and cancelling Rythu Bima. He said farmers demanding water were being booked in non-bailable cases. He further alleged that check dams were being damaged to facilitate illegal sand mining, while police remained silent spectators and failed to register complaints in many places across the State.