Harish Rao tears into Revanth Reddy’s claims on Kaleshwaram, Mallanna Sagar

BRS leader T Harish Rao launched a fierce attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing the Congress government of misrepresenting facts and claiming credit for irrigation projects executed under the BRS regime. He defended the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project and Mallanna Sagar, highlighting technical details and past investments.

Hyderabad: In a blistering attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, former Minister and senior MLA T Harish Rao said the Congress government was indulging in falsehoods and claiming credit for irrigation projects built under the BRS regime. The Chief Minister, who was habitual to spreading lies, was misleading people and lowering the dignity of the Chief Minister’s chair, he said.

Harish Rao ridiculed Revanth Reddy’s claim that the Sripada Yellampalli project and other reservoirs were Congress achievements. He recalled that the BRS government completed Yellampalli by spending Rs 2,052 crore, adding 20 TMCft storage in 2016, after the previous Congress regime had abandoned land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement incomplete. The Chief Minister was boasting of pumping water from the Yellampalli project to Hyderabad, but misled people without informing them that it was part of the Kaleshwaram project.

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Pointing to the technical details, the BRS leader explained how water pumped from Yellampalli flows through Medaram, Mid-Manair, Ananthagiri, Ranganayaka Sagar and finally Mallanna Sagar, all part of the Kaleshwaram network. He said Mallanna Sagar’s 50 TMC capacity was built with foresight to meet Hyderabad’s needs.

“Revanth Reddy might have laid a foundation stone at Gandipet, but remember the water is sourced from Kaleshwaram,” he remarked.

He dismissed the Chief Minister’s claim that an additional 20 TMC would be brought from Yellampalli to Hyderabad. “The project’s live capacity is already overstretched. Water is earmarked for NTPC, Gudem lift, Ramagundam lift and irrigation needs. Where will another 20 TMCft come from?” he asked, calling the statements reckless and lacking in common sense.

He accused Revanth Reddy of falsely claiming that Mallanna Sagar was built by YS Rajasekhar Reddy in 2008-09. He explained that the then Congress government proposed a DPR (detailed project report) with storage capacity of just 5 TMCft under the Pranahita-Chevella project, which the Central Water Commission rejected.

“It was KCR who built Mallanna Sagar as part of the world’s largest lift irrigation project, Kaleshwaram. Without it, Hyderabad wouldn’t have water security today,” he said.

Harish Rao highlighted BRS initiatives including Krishna Phase IV works, construction of 56 reservoirs and 2,600 km pipelines in Greater Hyderabad, Rs 7,000 crore spent on fresh water schemes, and major pumping stations under Sitarama and Palamuru-Rangareddy projects. He stated that the Congress government was simply pressing switches at completed pump houses and misleading the public.

Taking on the Chief Minister’s claims, the former Minister contrasted BRS’s comprehensive Relief and Rehabilitation package for oustees of Mallanna Sagar including land, houses, and cash benefits. However, the Congress government provided only sanction of double-bedroom houses to the oustees after demolition of 300 houses under Musi Riverfront rejuvenation project. He said displaced families in Mallanna Sagar received model colonies and compensation under the 2013 Act, while Musi River victims were left in despair.

He also flayed the Congress for contradictory positions. “One Minister curses Kaleshwaram, another sprinkles its water on his head. You are starting a Rs. 7,000 crore project with the same Kaleshwaram water, yet defaming it publicly,” he said, adding that Revanth Reddy’s statements were riddled with inconsistencies.

He released an old video of Revanth Reddy alleging in the Assembly that the Congress did not initiate any works under Pranahitha-Chevella despite spending Rs 5,000 crore. “But now, he is claiming that the Congress constructed Mallanna Sagar,” he said.

On the Palamuru–Rangareddy project, the BRS leader contrasted BRS’s target of irrigating 6.5 lakh acres with the Congress’s abandoned Pranahita-Chevella scheme, which proposed irrigating just 1.5 lakh acres of ayacut. He said Revanth Reddy was blocking the Palamuru-Rangareddy project progress, while floating new projects worth thousands of crores only for commissions.

Calling Revanth Reddy a habitual liar, Harish Rao said Telangana’s farmers and people knew the truth. “Because KCR built Kaleshwaram, you are able to supply water today. But lies cannot erase facts. People will soon reject this politics of deceit,” he warned.

By claiming that the Congress government would complete the Pranahitha-Chevella project by constructing a barrage at Tummidi Hatti at 148 metres as agreed with Maharashtra and supply water through gravity, both the Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister had inadvertently admitted they had lied.

“They accused the BRS government of shifting the barrage site from Tummidi Hatti to Medigadda, despite Maharashtra agreeing to a 152 metre height. But now, they are admitting otherwise and stating that the agreement was for 148 metres. I dare them to construct the barrage at 152 metres and bring water through gravity,” he said, adding that at 148 metres, the State would be able to use only 50 TMCft.

రేవంత్ రెడ్డి నోరు విప్పితే అబద్ధాలు తప్ప ఏం ఉండవని మరొకసారి రుజువయ్యింది. రేవంత్ రెడ్డి మాటలు వింటుంటే అబద్ధం కూడా ఆత్మహత్య చేసుకుంటుంది.

ఎల్లంపల్లి ప్రాజెక్టు మేమే కట్టామంటున్నారు. నీలాగా దిక్కుమాలిన దివాళా కోరు రాజకీయాలకు కేసీఆర్ గారు పాల్పడలేదు.

నాడు కాంగ్రెస్ హయాంలో… pic.twitter.com/7b8zoBXdoI

— BRS Party (@BRSparty) September 9, 2025