Harish Rao lashes out at Congress govt over Krishna River water row

BRS leader T. Harish Rao criticised Telangana Congress leaders for contradictory statements on Krishna River water allocations, accusing them of weakening the State’s case. He defended BRS’s past efforts and vowed to continue fighting for Telangana’s rightful share.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao on Wednesday lashed out at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy for making reckless statements on Telangana’s rights on Krishna River water. With their contradictory statements, ignorance and political compromises, the duo were weakening Telangana’s case before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, he said.

In a strong rebuttal to Uttam Kumar Reddy, Harish Rao pointed out glaring contradictions in the government’s stand. While Uttam Kumar Reddy earlier spoke of securing 763 TMCft, Revanth Reddy sought a blanket NOC (No Objection Certificate) from Andhra Pradesh for 500 TMCft, and later claimed the State’s rightful share was 904 TMC.

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“Who is correct? The Chief Minister or the Irrigation Minister? Every word counts, and their ignorance is pushing Telangana into a dangerous position,” he warned.

The senior BRS legislator accused the Congress of committing a historic betrayal by agreeing to a 299:512 TMCft ratio between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, respectively before the State formation, effectively reducing Telangana’s share in Krishna River water. He challenged the ruling party to prove its claim that BRS had signed on such an agreement and offered to resign if proven. “Will Congress leaders dare to do the same?” he challenged.

He said under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s leadership, Telangana fought for and secured Section 3, which strengthened the State’s case for a basin-wise allocation of 763 TMCft. “We fought in the Apex Council meetings, approached the Supreme Court, and wrote 28 letters for Section 3. On the other hand, the Congress is making contradictory statements that weaken Telangana’s stand,” he said.

On the Sammakka Sarakka Barrage, Harish Rao dismissed Uttam Kumar Reddy’s claims of securing approvals from Chhattisgarh. He said except for the NOC from Chhattisgarh, all permissions were obtained during the BRS rule. “KCR corrected the mistakes committed by the previous Congress government, constructed the barrage, and lifted water. Now they are boasting about an agreement over the submergence of 50 acres in Chhattisgarh as though they built the entire project. This is fake publicity,” he said.

The former Minister also accused the Congress of silence over Karnataka’s decision to raise the Almatti Dam height from 519 to 524 feet. Calling it a conspiracy to dry up Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Ranga Reddy districts, he questioned the Congress’s silence over Andhra Pradesh’s conspiracy to loot Telangana’s water through Banakacherla. He said both the Congress and the BJP had repeatedly ignored Telangana’s rights in river waters. He vowed that the BRS would continue to expose the Congress’s lies and fight to protect Telangana’s rightful share in Krishna River water.