CM challenges KCR to discuss water projects in Assembly

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy accused the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government of committing serious errors in river water sharing and then resorting to “deliberate and narrow-minded criticism” of the present Congress government to conceal those mistakes.

The Chief Minister was speaking after watching the PowerPoint presentation made by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on irrigation issues here on Thursday (January 01). He invited BRS chief and former Chief Minister Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao for a discussion in the Assembly, assuring that the Opposition Leader would be given due respect.

Mr. Revanth Reddy alleged that the previous government had not obtained the approval of the State Cabinet for shifting the water source of Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) from Jurala to Srisailam. KCR was not attending the Assembly sessions as he was afraid that this fact would be exposed. “Our government will inquire into this,” he said.

The Chief Minister suspected the lure of commissions behind shifting the water source of PRLIS from Jurala to Srisailam. He claimed this decision led to cost escalation, with project stages increasing from three to five, pumps from 22 to 37, and estimates rising from ₹32,000 crore to ₹84,000 crore.

As a result, A.P. had taken up projects to lift 13.37 tmcft of water every day, while Telangana would not be able to utilise even 0.25 tmcft. The previous government secured approvals for utilisation of 7.15 tmcft through the PRLIS, claiming it to be a project catering to drinking water needs. “Approvals were obtained for pumps and payment of bills to contractors,” he said. The Congress government, on its part, sought approval for utilisation of 45 tmcft, and the Centre would provide financial assistance after securing necessary approvals.

Referring to post-bifurcation arrangements, Mr. Revanth Reddy alleged that KCR signed an agreement accepting 299 TMC ft of net Krishna waters for Telangana while conceding 511 TMC ft to Andhra Pradesh, thereby granting permanent rights to the neighbouring State. Agreements on water sharing between the two Telugu States were made between KCR and his A.P. counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The Chief Minister said the Telangana government was firmly arguing for water allocation based on catchment area, demanding a 79:21 sharing ratio in favour of Telangana and seeking a total allocation of 555 TMC ft, and this was not palatable to the neighbouring A.P. YSR Congress leader and former A.P. chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also praised the effectiveness with which Telangana government was fighting for its cause.

Mr. Revanth Reddy alleged that KCR had come into public realising that his party’s survival was being questioned after it lost all the elections. “He is trying to get political mileage by creating a controversy over river water sharing,” the Chief Minister argued.

The Chief Minister took strong objection to BRS’ criticism of the appointment of retired bureaucrat Adityanath Das as the government’s advisor. Mr. Adityanath Das worked for a decade on Telangana projects and had a thorough understanding of the State’s needs. The BRS leaders are afraid that their misdeeds will be exposed and hence, the criticism.