Harish Rao blames Congress government for failure to protect Telangana’s water rights

Harish Rao urged the Centre and the State government to take immediate action, cautioning that Telangana's future was in jeopardy. He emphasized, "The Congress government must come out of its deep slumber before Telangana faces a severe water crisis."

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao held the Congress government responsible for failing to protect Telangana’s rightful share in Krishna River water. He said that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was diverting water without any opposition from the Telangana government, leading to a looming crisis for irrigation and drinking water needs in Telangana.

Demanding urgent action from the Centre and the State government, Harish Rao warned that Telangana’s future was at stake. “The Congress government must wake up from its deep slumber before Telangana is pushed into a full-blown water crisis,” he asserted.

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Addressing a press meet at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, Harish Rao pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was illegally drawing 10,000 cusecs of water per day through the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Bank Canal for the past three months. He stated that around 1,010 TMC water availability was predicted in Krishna River for the current water year.

As per the temporary agreement in 66:34 ratio, Andhra Pradesh wad entitled to 666 TMC, but it had already used 657 TMC, exceeding its share by a significant margin. In the last 25 days alone, 60 TMC was diverted, while Telangana had only utilised 220 TMC of its rightful 343 TMC share.

The former Irrigation Minister said that despite the Telangana Assembly passing a resolution demanding the withdrawal of CRPF from Nagarjuna Sagar, the Congress government had failed to reclaim the project for over a year. He warned that this would have long-term consequences for the State.

Harish Rao slammed Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, charging him of lacking the courage to challenge either the Centre or Chandrababu Naidu. “You are capable of hurling abuses at the opposition but cannot demand Telangana’s rightful water share. Telangana is staring at a drinking water crisis, and lakhs of acres of crops are at risk due to this government’s sheer negligence,” he warned.

He said Telangana was facing a drinking water shortage and that crops across lakhs of acres were at risk due to the government’s inaction. Currently, only 100 TMC of water was available in Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam combined, just above the Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL).

With over 6.38 lakh acres in Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Khammam requiring 30-35 TMC of water, and another 2.4 lakh acres under AMR Srisailam Left Bank Canal, he questioned how the government planned to meet irrigation needs. Drinking water for Hyderabad, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Suryapet, and Nalgonda was also dependent on Nagarjuna Sagar.

The senior BRS legislator called for a protest in Delhi to demand an immediate halt to water diversion from Nagarjuna Sagar, Mutchumarri, and Pothireddypadu. He criticised both the Congress and BJP MPs from Telangana for failing to take up the issue with the Centre. “What is their use if they cannot fight for Telangana’s water rights?” he asked.

He also sought clarity on why the Centre deployed CRPF at Nagarjuna Sagar but not at Srisailam. He demanded that Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, who represented the Secunderabad parliamentary constituency, must explain whether he would address Telangana’s concerns or remain silent.

Harish Rao also questioned the Congress government’s failure to secure Detailed Project Report (DPR) approvals for major irrigation projects. He said the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Wardha LIS, and Kaleshwaram LIS third TMC DPRs were all returned by the Centre, which could have been avoided. He pointed out that approvals for Sitarama LIS which needs one last approval, were not pursued in the last 14 months, and Sammakka Sagar remains stalled.

He stated that the government was deliberately neglecting the Kaleshwaram project, citing Medigadda Barrage repairs, which could have been completed within six months.