Stop misleading people with false propaganda, protect farmers’ interests and Telangana’s water rights: Harish Rao

BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of misleading people over Telangana’s irrigation history. He warned of a major agitation if Andhra Pradesh’s proposals against Telangana projects were not withdrawn before the August 18 GRMB meeting

Hyderabad: BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of trying to rewrite Telangana’s irrigation history with half-truths, lies and fabricated narratives. He urged the Chief Minister to stop misleading people and demanded immediate action to protect the State’s water rights.

He warned of a major agitation if the Congress government failed to convince GRMB to drop Andhra Pradesh’s proposals against Telangana projects in its upcoming meeting on August 18.

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Reacting to Revanth Reddy’s claim that the Kaleshwaram project had no role in Telangana’s record paddy production, Harish Rao asked then why the Chief Minister was directing officials to maximise Godavari water lifting from Yellampalli, Devadula and Sitarama Lift Irrigation projects, which directly or indirectly benefited from the Kaleshwaram project. “You cannot change history by covering the truth,” he said.

Revanth Reddy recently attributed the record paddy production to good monsoons, 15 lakh new borewells and farmer-centric measures such as Rythu Bharosa, Rythu Bima, crop-loan waiver and 24-hour free power.

Harish Rao countered him, stating that completion of Yellampalli, Mid Manair, Devadula and Sitarama projects during the previous BRS regime, coupled with restoration of tanks, improved groundwater levels and 24-hour quality power, had together contributed to increased cultivation. He reminded that Yellampalli and Mid Manair were integral to the Kaleshwaram project, which also helped stabilise the full ayacut of Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP) and Nizam Sagar.

Harish Rao accused the Congress government of neglecting irrigation and risking Telangana’s water rights. He demanded immediate measures for removal of Andhra Pradesh’s proposals from the GRMB agenda. He warned that if the issues were not withdrawn before the August 18 meeting, BRS would not remain a spectator. “We will lay siege to the GRMB office with thousands of people,” he said, asserting that BRS was ready for any struggle to protect Telangana’s water rights.