Former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao alleged that the Congress government was not operating pumps and lifting water despite adequate inflows into Godavari.
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
Continuing his attack on the State government over the alleged failure to utilise available Godavari waters, BRS deputy floor leader and former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday challenged the Congress government to hand over the Irrigation portfolio to him for three months. He claimed that he would ensure the lifting of water through the Kannepalli pumphouse as well as the Sammakka barrage (Tupakulagudem) to meet the irrigation and drinking water needs of the people.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Mr. Rao criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, alleging that the government was not operating pumps and lifting water despite adequate inflows into Godavari.
He also accused Mr. Revanth Reddy of making misleading statements regarding irrigation projects and permissions related to the Tummidihatti project.
Questioning the Chief Minister’s claims that permissions had been secured for Tummidihatti during the previous Congress government, Mr. Rao asked why no substantial work had been carried out despite Congress governments being in power at the Centre, in Maharashtra and in the undivided State for several years.
Issuing a challenge to the Chief Minister, Mr. Rao said he was prepared to resign as MLA if documentary evidence was produced showing that Maharashtra had granted permission for the project at the proposed level. Otherwise, he said, the Chief Minister should apologise to the people.
Meanwhile, several Congress leaders, including T. Jagga Reddy, accused Mr. Rao of spreading misinformation and attempting to shift responsibility for the problems surrounding the Kaleshwaram project onto the Congress government.
He alleged that deficiencies in the construction of the Kaleshwaram project had led to its present condition and questioned why former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had removed Mr. Harish Rao from the Irrigation portfolio during the BRS regime.
Mr. Jagga Reddy asked Mr. Harish Rao to first explain the circumstances behind his removal as Irrigation Minister before criticising the Congress government.
Referring to Mr. Harish Rao’s criticism of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the TPCC working president said the Chief Minister was ready for a discussion on the issue in the Assembly and challenged the BRS leader to participate in such a debate.
Mr. Jagga Reddy called upon Congress leaders across the State to counter what he described as misleading narratives on the Kaleshwaram project and to explain the government’s position to the public.
Published – July 08, 2026 06:53 pm IST
