Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) blamed the Telangana government for drought conditions on Tuesday. He alleged that its failure to use available river water had left agricultural fields drying up across the state.
KTR accused the Congress administration, headed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, of neglecting irrigation projects despite adequate water flows in the Godavari and Krishna rivers. He made the allegations at Telangana Bhavan while addressing BJP and Congress leaders and activists from Nirmal district who joined the BRS.
KTR questioned why farmers faced water shortages when the state’s two major rivers continued to carry water. He alleged that the government’s irrigation management had contributed to the drying of agricultural fields.
KTR blames Telangana government for drought amid irrigation concerns
KTR specifically criticised the government’s failure to operate the Kannepalli pump house and utilise the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. He also questioned why the administration had not effectively used the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project to supply water to agricultural lands.
According to KTR, these failures deprived farmers of irrigation water despite the availability of river resources.
Furthermore, he accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of placing political considerations above farmers’ interests. He alleged that the administration had failed to prioritise irrigation requirements and protect standing crops.
KTR also compared Telangana’s water management with that of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. He claimed that Andhra Pradesh was diverting and using river water while the Telangana government allowed available water to flow into the sea.
Meanwhile, KTR questioned the Congress government’s preparedness despite weather warnings. He criticised its handling of irrigation resources and asked why preventive measures had not protected agricultural fields.
KTR demands immediate operation of irrigation pumps
KTR demanded that the state government immediately operate irrigation pumps to provide water to standing crops. He maintained that the Telangana government for drought allegation reflected its failure to use existing irrigation infrastructure effectively.
He urged the administration to make better use of the Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Ranga Reddy projects instead of allowing available river water to go unused. Additionally, KTR warned that farmers would respond to the Congress government’s handling of drought conditions.
He predicted that the farming community would hold the administration accountable for failing to provide irrigation water when river supplies were available. His remarks followed the induction of BJP and Congress leaders and activists from Nirmal district into the BRS at Telangana Bhavan.