Harish Rao takes on Revanth Reddy over Godavari-Banakacherla row

BRS leader T Harish Rao accepted CM Revanth Reddy’s challenge for an open Assembly debate on Krishna and Godavari water disputes. He accused the Congress of surrendering Telangana’s rights and demanded equal time, transparency, and an uninterrupted platform

Hyderabad: In a point-by-point counter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, former minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao has accepted the former’s challenge for an open debate on Krishna and Godavari river water disputes in the Assembly. However, he demanded a fair platform and healthy debate, insisting that his microphone should neither be disconnected nor his speech interrupted.

Speaking at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Harish Rao said Revanth Reddy was misleading the public on the Apex Council discussions. He said former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao never discussed on the Godavari-Penna or Banakacherla projects, but had only suggested for utilisation of 3,000 TMCft of surplus water in Godavari River flowing wastefully into the sea.

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The former Irrigation Minister warned that the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project threatens Telangana’s rights not just in Godavari River but also Krishna River waters. “Andhra Pradesh proposed to use Krishna River water for its needs under the project, if adequate water is unavailable in Godavari River,” he said. He questioned the State government’s silence on Andhra Pradesh’s plans and accused Revanth Reddy of colluding with his AP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu.

Harish Rao also rubbished allegations that the previous BRS government accepted allocation of 299 TMCft in Krishna River water, reiterating that the allocations were made on an ad-hoc basis until the final award was given by Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 (KWDT-2). “If KCR or I agreed to such a deal, I am ready to resign. In fact, it was the previous Congress governments which are responsible for the allocation, during the KWDT-1,” he asserted, citing records from 2013 that fixed Telangana’s quota at 299 TMCft, blaming the Congress for issuing a death warrant on Telangana’s water rights.

He said Revanth Reddy was lying both when in opposition and in power. “You sat silently while Andhra Pradesh wrote to the Centre seeking Rs.80,000 crore for the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project. You invited your mentor Chandrababu Naidu to Praja Bhavan and sold Telangana’s water interests as Gurudakshina,” he alleged.

Recalling the BRS government’s efforts, the BRS legislator stated that Chandrashekhar Rao fought relentlessly for Telangana’s rightful share and even demanded 2,918 TMCft from the Godavari River, including the existing 968 TMCft and an additional 1,950 TMCft in surplus water, in a letter to the Centre in 2020. “Our government ensured that not a drop was given away without the State’s consent. We pursued legal action, moved the Apex Council, and pushed for a tribunal,” he said.

He challenged Revanth Reddy to present facts in the Assembly, but demanded an uncensored debate with equal time and opportunity to the opposition. “Do not turn the camera away or mute the mic. Let’s speak 15 days on Krishna, 15 days on Godavari. I am ready to debate, even if you convene the House tomorrow,” he declared.

Harish Rao slammed the Congress government for handing over Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) in January 2024, which the BRS had consistently opposed to safeguard Telangana’s rights. “You gave away projects to KRMB and let CRPF guard the projects without resistance. Where was your spine then?” he asked.

Referring to Palamuru-Rangareddy and other lift irrigation schemes, the former Minister credited BRS with irrigating 48 lakh acres through these irrigation projects, Mission Kakatiya and other major efforts. “In contrast, Revanth Reddy has failed to even supply urea to farmers properly, despite having irrigation infrastructure and water available,” he said.

He warned that the Congress government’s decisions will face stiff resistance if injustice in water sharing and project allocations continues any further.