"jurala-project"

Water was released into the Jurala right canal on Wednesday following rains in upstream areas and protests by farmers. The move came a day after Telangana Ministers and MLAs met Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar seeking irrigation and drinking water.

The Telangana government has approached Karnataka seeking 5,000 cusecs of Krishna water continuously for a month to meet irrigation and drinking water needs in the Palamuru region. The move follows demands by farmers and the BRS to protect standing crops.

Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao defended the Telangana government’s Jurala water management, citing water scarcity and drinking water needs. He said farmers were advised to cultivate dry crops, blamed the previous BRS government and sought Centre’s support to tackle drought.

Farmers and BRS leaders were stopped by police while attempting to reach the Jurala Project to protest over irrigation water. Several BRS leaders were detained or placed under house arrest as tension escalated in the project area

BRS Parliamentary Party leader Vaddiraju Ravichandra accused the Congress government of detaining BRS leaders and farmers seeking irrigation water for the Jurala ayacut. He questioned the denial of water to crops and criticised the government over irrigation and BC reservation issues

BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the detention of party leaders protesting for irrigation water from the Jurala project. He demanded their release and alleged that water was being withheld despite availability, leaving standing crops under stress in the ayacut.

Tension prevailed at the Jurala project in Jogulamba Gadwal district as police and officials guarded canal regulators after farmers released water themselves for irrigation. Farmers said crops were withering and demanded assured water supply to protect their paddy fields

Former Minister S Niranjan Reddy accused the Congress government of using El Nino as an excuse to restrict irrigation water to Telangana farmers. He demanded continuous operation of major lift schemes and alleged that Andhra Pradesh was diverting Telangana's Krishna water.

Two youths from Shadnagar died and another was injured after their bike hit a speed breaker and crashed into a railing on the Jurala project road in Jogulamba Gadwal.

Flood inflows into major irrigation projects in Telangana, including Jurala, Srisailam and Yellampalli, have declined due to reduced rainfall in upstream Karnataka. Officials have closed gates, prioritising drinking water over irrigation, while power generation continues.

Jurala project officials closed the gates after flood inflows declined following reduced rainfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka. With inflows at 80,000 cusecs, 39,608 cusecs are being released downstream. Officials ruled out irrigation releases, citing concerns over next season’s drinking water supply

Heavy rains across Telangana and upstream catchments have sharply increased inflows into major reservoirs on the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Heavy inflows pushed the Godavari to 48 ft at Bhadrachalam by Friday evening, forcing authorities to issue a second warning and release 11.44 lakh cusecs downstream. Floods cut off NH‑163 and several roads in Mulugu, isolating villages.

Farmers in Palamuru district are facing severe water scarcity, with falling reservoir levels and drying canals affecting cultivation. Many are waiting for water from the Jurala project, while others are reluctant to begin farming amid uncertainty over irrigation availability

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised that the Telangana government is prioritising irrigation projects in the Palamuru region, including Jurala, to tackle drought and backwardness.

Former Ministers and BRS leaders in Mahabubnagar have accused the Congress government of deliberately neglecting the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation (PLRI) project.

Telangana has experienced an extraordinary monsoon season, with rainfall 35% above normal from June to November. The extended rains, driven by Cyclone Montha and Bay of Bengal systems, have led to record-breaking inflows in major reservoirs across the Krishna and Godavari basins.

Mahesh, a 25-year-old from Bhudidapadu, jumped into the Jurala project canal to avoid a rashly driven car that had collided with his bike. While his friend Janakiram sustained injuries, Mahesh is feared to have been swept away.

Repairs to Jurala’s crest gates have been halted due to rising inflows, with work postponed until late 2025. Reduced capacity, traffic pressure, equipment failure, and lack of specialised repair support have added to the operational challenges at the project.

Former Ministers V Srinivas Goud and C Lakshma Reddy led a BRS team to inspect Jurala project, expressing concern over gate No. 9 issues and criticising the government for delay in repairs ahead of the monsoon

BRS leader KT Rama Rao blamed the Congress government for the failure of Gate No. 9 at the Jurala project, citing negligence in maintenance. He warned of further risks and criticised the administration for repeated infrastructure failures under its rule