Hyderabad: BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T. Harish Rao urged the State government to immediately operate all available pumps to harness Godavari floodwaters. Harish Rao’s Godavari pumping demand came amid ongoing flood flows in the river. The former Minister also rejected official claims that El Niño had caused the prevailing water shortage.
In a letter to Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Harish Rao raised concerns over water levels in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme reservoirs. He alleged that the reservoirs remained depleted despite heavy inflows upstream.
According to Harish Rao, the situation exposed poor water management by the Congress administration. He therefore demanded continuous pumping to capture the available floodwaters.
Harish Rao’s Godavari pumping demand seeks continuous operations
Harish Rao asked the government to operate pumping stations around the clock instead of running them intermittently. He said the measure was necessary to secure irrigation water for farmers facing dry conditions.
The BRS leader also asked the government to set aside political considerations while dealing with the water situation. He urged the State administration to take responsibility for water scarcity rather than blame natural factors.
Godavari pumping demand also challenged the government’s reliance on El Niño as an explanation for the shortage. He called for the available Godavari floodwaters to be harnessed immediately through the existing pumping system.