Harish Rao warns Andhra Pradesh against grabbing Telangana’s water

Senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao accused the Andhra Pradesh government of violating Telangana’s rights by pushing the Banakacharla project. He criticised the Congress and BJP for remaining silent and said the BRS would approach the Supreme Court to protect Telangana's water interests

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao condemned the bulldozing tactics of the Andhra Pradesh government over its decision to construct the Banakacharla project, despite four Central agencies rejecting the proposal. He cautioned about a broader conspiracy to divert both Godavari and Krishna river waters to Andhra Pradesh through Banakacharla.

“We are not opposed to Andhra Pradesh getting its rightful share, but bulldozing Telangana’s water rights is unacceptable. The BRS will approach the Supreme Court to defend our rights,” he affirmed. He came out strongly against the ruling Congress in Telangana and the BJP at the Centre, accusing both parties of ignoring Telangana’s water interests by remaining silent on Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Banakacharla project.

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In a pointed rebuttal, Harish Rao tore into Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh‘s claims over the Banakacharla and Kaleshwaram projects. He said the boldness shown by Andhra Pradesh on the Banakacharla project was rooted in tacit cooperation from both Congress and BJP. He raised questions over the lack of response from the Telangana government to Lokesh’s claims.

“The silence of Revanth Reddy and the BJP has emboldened Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Ministers. While Chandrababu Naidu’s son Lokesh makes bold claims about Delhi’s support, Telangana’s Chief Minister and Ministers have remained silent,” he said.

The former Irrigation Minister ridiculed Lokesh’s claims that the Banakacharla project will utilise the surplus water in the Godavari River. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Banakacharla project was rejected by multiple central agencies, including the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Environment Ministry, due to lack of water data and necessary approvals.

“If there’s surplus water, why was the DPR rejected by four central agencies?” he asked.

Harish Rao also shut down Lokesh’s allegations that the Kaleshwaram project was illegal, stating that the then BRS government secured all 11 required permissions. He stated that despite Chandrababu Naidu writing seven letters to the Centre to cancel the permissions of the Kaleshwaram project, the previous BRS government secured permissions and completed the project.

The senior BRS MLA challenged Lokesh to accept the 968 TMCft water share allocated to Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and demanded the withdrawal of objections to Telangana’s ongoing projects. “If they try to grab our waters, we know how to stop them legally and politically,” he asserted.