Harish Rao questions Congress govt’s failure to protect Telangana’s water rights

He blamed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, for turning a blind eye while Andhra Pradesh continues to exploit Telangana’s water resources unchecked

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao has lashed out at the Congress government for its silence over alleged diversion of Krishna waters by the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

He blamed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, for turning a blind eye while Andhra Pradesh continues to exploit Telangana’s water resources unchecked.

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He demanded urgent action from the State government to pressure the KRMB and stop Andhra Pradesh’s water diversion before Telangana’s reservoirs run dry.

In a statement, Harish Rao said Andhra Pradesh has been diverting 10,000 cusecs per day from the Nagarjuna Sagar right canal for the past three months, amounting to 646 TMC in this water year alone. He questioned whether the Congress government even cares about Telangana’s water interests.

“The Nagarjuna Sagar dam is under the control of central forces, and water should be released only under their supervision. Yet, Andhra Pradesh is siphoning off water at will, depleting the reserves meant for Telangana’s drinking water needs,” he stated.

The former Irrigation Minister pointed out that the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has failed to convene the mandatory three-men committee meeting this year, exposing severe mismanagement. Despite Andhra Pradesh’s aggressive water transfer through the Pothireddypadu and Sagar right canals, he questioned the Congress government for making no effort to stop it.

Harish Rao warned that if this illegal water diversion is not halted immediately, the Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut in Telangana will suffer, and Hyderabad city itself may face a drinking water crisis. Even before the summer commences, he said farmers have already hit the streets in protest.