‘Historic blunder on Krishna waters’: CM Revanth holds KCR, Harish Rao responsible for Telangana’s loss

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday accused the previous BRS regime of causing lasting damage to the State’s irrigation and water security by accepting a reduced share in Krishna river waters.

He also said that the BRS failed to complete key irrigation projects sanctioned during the united Andhra Pradesh period.

Addressing the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said Telangana’s legitimate water rights were diluted through a series of decisions taken after 2014, resulting in injustice to farmers and the State at large.

Key points from the Assembly debate

Projects approved before bifurcation:

During the united Andhra Pradesh period (2005–2014), several irrigation projects were sanctioned for Telangana in the Krishna basin.

These include SLBC, Kalwakurthy, Nettampadu, Palamuru–Rangareddy, Dindi, Makthal–Narayanpet–Kodangal and Koilsagar.

The Minister alleged that after coming to power in 2014, the BRS government failed to complete these projects and left many of them incomplete.

Water allocation reduced after State formation:

Out of 811 TMC allocated to the united Andhra Pradesh, Telangana was entitled to 490 TMC, the Chief Minister said.

Former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao told meetings of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti that surplus waters were available in the Godavari river and should be utilised.

These remarks, it is alleged, prompted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to conceptualise the Banakacherla proposal.

KCR attended Union Jal Shakti Ministry meetings on two occasions

During these meetings, he agreed to an interim allocation of Krishna river waters—512 TMC to Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMC to Telangana.

KCR also signed an undertaking to adhere to this arrangement until the final verdict of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal.

Despite getting another opportunity in 2020 to seek a higher share for Telangana, KCR did not pursue a revision of the allocation.

Series of meetings that sealed the reduced share:

June 2015: Telangana consented to 299 TMC at an inter-State meeting convened by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry.

September 21, 2016: The same figure was accepted as a temporary allocation at the first Apex Council meeting.

October 6, 2020: The 299 TMC allocation was agreed to permanently at the second Apex Council meeting.

Failure to debate in the Assembly:

The Chief Minister said KCR and Harish Rao were invited for a detailed discussion on Krishna waters in the Assembly.

“Instead of participating in a legislative debate, they stayed away, even as Andhra Pradesh continued to draw Krishna waters for nearly a decade,” Revanth Reddy alleged.

Origins of Palamuru–Rangareddy project:

The Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project was first proposed in 2009.

Then Mahbubnagar MP Vithal Rao wrote to late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy seeking approval for the project.

Telangana Congress leaders, the Minister said, fought hard during the United State period to secure the project.

Questioning KCR’s role:

Revanth Reddy also pointed out that KCR, who was Mahbubnagar MP at the time, did not demand the Palamuru lift irrigation project.

“With what moral authority is he speaking on this issue today?” the Chief Minister asked.

The Chief Minister said the united Mahbubnagar district had faced injustice both during the united State period and over the past decade.

He expressed disappointment that a senior and experienced former Chief Minister like K Chandrashekar Rao did not attend the Assembly to offer constructive advice or suggestions.

Revanth Reddy noted that statements made inside the Assembly carry greater value than remarks made outside, especially on complex issues like inter-State river waters.

He termed it unfortunate that the Opposition Leader had not attended the House for nearly two years.

Drawing a contrast, he said Congress leaders had continued to participate in Assembly debates even when they were earlier subjected to criticism or humiliation.

The Chief Minister warned that when Opposition leaders avoid Assembly discussions, it is the public that ultimately suffers.

He pointed out that while KCR raised the issue of Krishna river waters outside, it was the government that immediately brought the matter for discussion in the Assembly.

Revanth Reddy added that debates held in party offices only create confusion among the public, whereas legislative forums are meant for serious and responsible discussion.

He concluded by remarking that the Opposition’s absence reflected a disregard for democratic institutions and the Legislature.

Jurala source changed to Srisailam:

Initially, the project was approved to divert 70 TMC of flood waters from Jurala, with a daily drawal of 2 TMC.

The Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) was entrusted with surveys and DPR preparation based on Jurala as the source.

Within weeks of coming to power, the BRS government altered the plan and shifted the source to Srisailam.

Cost escalation due to design change:

With Jurala as the source, pump costs were estimated at Rs 5,185 crore.

After shifting the source to Srisailam, the number of pumps increased to 37, pushing estimates to Rs 10,335 crore, the Chief Minister said.

‘Telangana comes first, always’: CM Revanth Reddy

The Chief Minister also said his priority has always been his region, asserting that Telangana comes before party interests.

He stated that he would never allow injustice to Telangana while occupying the Chief Minister’s chair.

Revanth Reddy said his government has a clear record of halting the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme after coming to power.

He asserted that the government had made it clear that talks would be held only after stopping the Rayalaseema lift irrigation works.

The Chief Minister said the stoppage of the project could be verified through a fact-finding committee.

Reiterating his commitment, he said that whether in life or death, he stands only for Telangana.

Swearing in the name of God, he asserted that he would never allow injustice to be done to Telangana.

Telangana Assembly passes unanimous resolution on Palamuru–Rangareddy Project, inter-state water issues

Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme

Meanwhile, the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government to immediately grant all pending approvals for the Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS).

The House noted that the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district is one of the most drought-prone regions in the State and has witnessed large-scale migration, which prompted the earlier government to take up the PRLIS.

However, due to the lack of proper progress over the past decade after the formation of Telangana, the project has suffered significant delays, leading to a sharp escalation in costs.

Taking these factors into account, the Assembly appealed to the Centre to swiftly clear all permissions for the project, which aims to provide drinking water and irrigation facilities with a proposed allocation of 90 TMC.

Polavaram link projects and inter-state water disputes

In a separate but related resolution, the Assembly unanimously urged the Union government not to grant any permissions for the Polavaram–Banakacharla Link Project, the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar Link Project, or any other proposal in any form that involves the diversion of Godavari waters by the Andhra Pradesh government, until all inter-State water disputes between the two States are fully resolved.