KTR blames Congress for drought, questions use of irrigation pumps

BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Telangana government of worsening drought conditions by allowing more than 1,000 TMCft of Godavari and Krishna water to flow downstream. He alleged that irrigation pumps were not used despite warnings of El Niño

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government of creating drought conditions in Telangana by allowing large quantities of Godavari and Krishna river water to flow downstream despite advance warnings of El Niño.

“This is not a drought brought by fate, but one created by Congress,” he said.

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Rama Rao said the government had allowed more than 750 TMCft of Godavari water and 250 TMCft of Krishna water to flow downstream since June 1, 2026. He alleged that the ruling Congress could have used the Kannepalli and Devadula pumps to fill reservoirs and tanks along the Godavari, while operating the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation schemes to utilise Krishna water.

“Despite meteorologists warning of El Niño since March, the government failed to act. Andhra Pradesh diverted the released water through Pattiseema, Pothireddypadu and the Veligonda tunnel, supplying even the distant Kuppam region,” he said.