KTR warns of agitation if government fails to release Jurala water

BRS working president KT Rama Rao warned of protests if water was not released to the Jurala ayacut, demanded operation of pump houses and talks with Karnataka, and accused the Congress government of negligence while seeking action on land allegations.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Monday warned of a major agitation, including protests at government offices, if the Congress government failed to release water to the Jurala ayacut and protect standing crops. He held the government responsible for any crop loss in the ayacut and demanded immediate measures to ensure water supply.

Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan after a meeting with senior party leaders, including former Ministers and MLAs, Rama Rao said the government should stop using arrests to suppress farmers’ concerns and instead address the water shortage. He demanded that the Kannepalli and Narlapur pump houses be operated. He suggested that the State government negotiate with Karnataka for the release of water from the Almatti and Narayanapur reservoirs.

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The BRS working president stated that about 248 TMCft of Krishna water had been available to Telangana this year, but the State utilised only 28 TMCft. He said substantial quantities had flowed downstream to Andhra Pradesh due to the negligence and inefficiency of the Congress government in filling the reservoirs, while Telangana farmers were being denied water despite availability in upstream reservoirs.

Rama Rao said the problem was not confined to Jurala and similar conditions prevailed at Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam projects. With crops approaching the final stage before harvesting, any delay in releasing water could result in crop losses, he said. He argued that farmers had been forced to take matters into their own hands only after the government failed to respond to their demand for water. He said the administration should focus on water and power supply instead of targeting Opposition leaders.

On the Congress leaders visiting the properties of BRS leaders and claiming them as illegal, he challenged the government to take any action if there were any irregularities involving BRS leaders’ properties. He reiterated the party’s demand for a sitting judge’s inquiry into the assets of leaders of both parties, and pointed out that the government was yet to respond.

“We are ready for any punishment as per law, if the ruling Congress provides evidence of irregularities. But we urge the Revanth Reddy government not to punish farmers and ensure them irrigation water immediately to prevent crop loss,” he said, adding that the BRS leaders will not be intimidated by the Congress leaders’ theatrics and false propaganda.

Rama Rao also targeted Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over his proposed visit to Sircilla. He demanded that the Chief Minister explain the Congress government’s failure to support farmers and handloom workers. He sought a white paper on the Chief Minister’s Assembly allegation that 8,000 acres were encroached upon by BRS leaders in Rajanna Sircilla district.

“The Chief Minister must release all details of the land along with survey numbers and those responsible. He should either substantiate the allegation or apologise for making false claims,” he demanded.