Revanth dismisses BRS demand to operate Kaleshwaram pumps, cites lack of flood waters

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy defended the government's decision not to operate the Kannepally pump house, citing inadequate rainfall and floodwaters due to El Niño. He challenged K Chandrashekhar Rao to suggest repairs for the Kaleshwaram project and criticised Congress legislators for weak political messaging

Hyderabad: Despite a substantial flow of water downstream at Medigadda, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday sought to defend the State government’s decision not to operate the Kannepally pump house, contending that there was neither adequate rainfall in the catchment area nor floodwaters in the River Godavari to justify lifting water.

Participating in a meeting where a presentation on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme was made at Praja Bhavan, the Chief Minister attributed the situation to the impact of El Niño. “Due to the El Niño effect, there were no rains and no floodwaters. How can water be lifted to the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages?” he asked.

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The presentation was delivered by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy to around 200 elected representatives from the Congress. A similar presentation had earlier been conducted on July 9, 2025.

Revanth Reddy said the Kaleshwaram project was designed to lift nearly two tmcft of floodwater every day from the Godavari and store it for irrigation purposes. He accused the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of misleading farmers in north Telangana by claiming that water could be lifted from Medigadda despite the absence of adequate inflows.

“When there is no rain and no water, how can there be floods? Even if there is some flow, what is the scope for lifting water?” he asked, reiterating that the government remained committed to repairing the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and restoring them to operation.

The Chief Minister also challenged BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao to present his views on the Kaleshwaram project and suggest remedial measures.

“If he writes to the Speaker, we will convene a joint session of the Assembly and the Council. Experts will also be invited. He should explain how the repairs should be carried out, and he will be given an opportunity to do so,” Revanth Reddy said.

Finds fault with Congress leaders for failing to respond

The Chief Minister also expressed dissatisfaction with Congress legislators for failing to effectively counter the Opposition’s narrative.

“The Congress government is implementing several welfare and development programmes. But no one is talking about them. Why are you not responding boldly?” he asked the elected representatives.

To go as box report: Revanth’s loan figures differ from Assembly statement

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday stated that the Congress government had borrowed nearly Rs 1.80 lakh crore during its 30 months in office, echoing a claim made recently by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

However, the figure differs significantly from the Chief Minister’s own statement in the Assembly on March 18, 2026, when he said that the State government had raised Rs 3.47 lakh crore in loans between December 1, 2023, and February 28, 2026. Last Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also claimed that the government had borrowed Rs 1.77 lakh crore, rejecting the Opposition’s allegation that borrowings had touched Rs 4.14 lakh crore.