“Stop blaming KCR”: BRS leaders hit back at CM Revanth over Banakacherla water dispute

BRS leaders said the Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister had prioritised political attacks on former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao instead of protecting the State's water rights.

Hyderabad: BRS leaders on Tuesday gave a strong counter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy over their repeated failure to protect Telangana’s water rights in the ongoing row over the Banakacherla project in Andhra Pradesh.

They said the Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister had prioritised political attacks on former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao instead of protecting the State’s water rights.

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Speaking at Telangana Bhavan, former Minister Gangula Kamalakar ridiculed the government’s presentation to its MLAs, stating that it was a recycled script targeting the former Chief Minister while shielding Chandrababu Naidu. He pointed out that only after Harish Rao exposed the Banakacherla issue in January did the Congress react.

“Uttam Kumar Reddy then wrote a letter to the Centre with old dates just to save face,” he said.

Kamalakar said the Expert Appraisal Committee denying environmental clearance for the Godavari-Banakacherla link project was a BRS victory and warned that the fight would continue until the project was completely stopped.

MLA K Sanjay said Revanth Reddy lacked knowledge of irrigation facts and slammed him for distorting data on Krishna River and Godavari River waters.

“Revanth Reddy’s focus is not on safeguarding Telangana’s rights, but holding Chandrashekhar Rao responsible,” he said. He said Chandrashekhar Rao was wrongfully blamed for suggesting to utilise the flood water wastefully released into the sea.

Other BRS leaders including MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and former Minister Koppula Eshwar demanded an immediate Assembly session on Banakacherla. They asked the Chief Minister to convene the session and allow Harish Rao to present the facts.

“Let Revanth Reddy do the same,” they challenged.