Harish Rao sounds alarm over AP bid to revoke Telangana project clearances, questions Congress govt’s silence
BRS leader T Harish Rao alleged that the Congress government had failed to safeguard Telangana’s water interests as Andhra Pradesh sought a review of clearances for key irrigation projects before the August 18 GRMB meeting. He warned of statewide protests if Telangana’s water rights were affected.
Hyderabad: BRS legislature party deputy leader T Harish Rao on Wednesday accused the Congress government of allowing Andhra Pradesh to reopen a battle over Telangana’s water rights. He warned that the agenda for the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) meeting on August 18, could threaten clearances secured for several key projects.
Speaking at Telangana Bhavan here, Harish Rao questioned the State government’s silence over Andhra Pradesh’s demand for a review of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) clearances for seven Telangana projects and its opposition to the Sammakka Barrage. “The Telangana government has failed to prevent it or at least raise an objection,” he said, questioning whether the GRMB meeting was being used to advance Andhra Pradesh’s interests.
Andhra Pradesh had sought a review or stoppage of clearances granted to seven
Telangana projects including Kaleshwaram, Choutapalli Hanmanth Rao, Chinna Kaleshwaram,
Chanaka-Korata, Modikunta Vagu, Kadem-Gudem and Sitarama Lift Irrigation Schemes, besides
opposing clearances for the Sammakka Barrage.
Harish Rao said these were projects for which the previous BRS government had secured approvals to utilise 383 TMCft of Godavari water. “While Chandrababu Naidu is trying to loot Telangana of its water share, Revanth Reddy mortgaged Telangana’s interest to benefit his mentor,” he said, demanding that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy immediately oppose the proposals.
The former Irrigation Minister said the Congress government did not secured approval for a new project in nearly three years, while DPRs of Sammakka, Palamuru-Rangareddy and Wardha projects had been returned on technical grounds. “Now, it is not even able to safeguard existing approvals,” he said.
He pointed out that the BRS government had secured approval for Sammakka Barrage on August 25, 2022, for 47 TMCft. The project was designed to irrigate four lakh acres through SRSP Stage-II and another 40,000 acres through Ramappa and Pakhal, besides supplying drinking water to Mulugu and Warangal. He asked whether the Chief Minister was prepared to give up Telangana’s 47 TMCft allocation.
Harish Rao also questioned why the proposed Godavari-Banakacherla project had not been brought before the GRMB by Telangana. He said the Congress government was not adequately opposing projects that could affect its interests. He questioned whether there was an understanding between Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over Banakacherla.
The senior BRS leader raised concern over Andhra Pradesh disputing Telangana’s claim to 968 TMCft of Godavari River water in its agenda. He said the allocation figured in the report submitted to the Justice Sri Krishna Committee during the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation process and was recorded in the minutes of the ninth GRMB meeting.
He demanded that Telangana MPs fight the issue in Parliament and called upon union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay to clarify the BJP’s position.
Turning to water utilisation, Harish Rao alleged that only nine Devadula motors were switched on after pressure from the BRS and five pumps were operating at Yellampalli. He said Telangana’s water utilisation under the Congress government fell to 26 per cent, against allocated 34 per cent.
He also questioned why Congress governments at the Centre, in Maharashtra and in undivided Andhra Pradesh had failed to secure approvals for Tummidihatti, while clearances already obtained by Telangana were now facing a review. “Telangana water rights cannot be compromised,” Harish Rao said, warning that the BRS would oppose every attempt to dilute the State’s share and launch a larger agitation if necessary.
