KTR says Modi, Naidu and Congress colluding to undermine Telangana

At the BRSV State Conference, BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of conspiring to undermine Telangana’s achievements and deny its rightful water share.

Hyderabad: Alleging a multi-pronged attack on Telangana to undermine its achievements during the BRS regime and deprive the State of its rightful entitlements, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday said the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu were orchestrating it.

Addressing the BRSV State Conference, Rama Rao said their objective was to erase the legacy of BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao, who not only led the Telangana Statehood movement but also positioned the State as a national leader in various sectors.

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He alleged that there was a deliberate conspiracy to deny Telangana its rightful share of Godavari River water. He demanded that the Centre allocate 1,950 TMC of floodwater to Telangana based on its catchment area and also ensure the allocation of 968 TMC of assured water from the river.

Rama Rao asserted that the Centre must issue a statutory award quantifying Telangana’s rights over both floodwaters and assured waters before allowing Andhra Pradesh to utilise its share, including the controversial Banakacherla Link Project.

He made it clear that Telangana had no objection to other States using their legitimate share, but said its own entitlement must be legally quantified. He opposed the Banakacherla project, saying it could not proceed without approvals from the Apex Council, Central Water Commission, and the Godavari River Management Board.

Rama Rao suggested that Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy were colluding over the project, with Naidu believing he could influence Reddy’s decisions. “They seem to have forgotten that KCR and the BRS are here to safeguard Telangana’s interests,” he said.

Highlighting the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, Rama Rao called it the world’s largest lift irrigation project, comprising three barrages, 15 reservoirs, 19 pumping stations, and massive 140 MW pumps that lift water to a height of 618 metres to irrigate over 40 lakh acres.

He dismissed allegations of corruption in Kaleshwaram, stating that while the estimated cost was Rs. 80,400 crore, political rivals were making exaggerated claims of Rs. 1 lakh crore. He pointed out that all three barrages had withstood record-level flooding in 2022.

Regarding structural issues in two pillars of the Medigadda barrage, he alleged sabotage by Congress elements attempting to tarnish the BRS’s reputation for completing the project in record time.

He said that although the party was preoccupied with election-related activities, the damage was deliberate and aimed at discrediting the BRS leadership.