Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday accused BRS leader T. Harish Rao of spreading misinformation on Godavari water rights. He asserted that the Telangana government remained committed to protecting the State’s irrigation interests.
Responding to Harish Rao’s criticism ahead of the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) meeting on August 18, Uttam Kumar Reddy said Andhra Pradesh had raised similar objections in every board meeting over the past 12 years. However, he said the issues were not new.
The Minister alleged that BRS leaders had indirectly supported Andhra Pradesh’s irrigation projects while in power. He accused them of criticising the government only after losing office.
Godavari water rights remain government’s priority
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress government would not compromise on Telangana’s water rights. Moreover, he questioned the BRS over the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Polavaram-Banakacherla project. He claimed those developments took place during the previous BRS government’s tenure.
He said Andhra Pradesh had repeatedly objected to projects such as Kaleshwaram, Sitarama, Sammakka, Chinna Kaleshwaram, Chanaka-Korata, Modikunta Vagu and Gudem Lift. Further, he said the Telangana government had successfully countered those objections before the GRMB and the Central Water Commission.
The Minister said the government secured Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) approval for the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project on April 24, 2025. He claimed it became the first major irrigation project to receive TAC approval after Telangana’s formation. He also said the State secured an allocation of 60 TMC of water.
Government pursuing clearances and legal action
Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the previous BRS government had sought the constitution of a water tribunal during GRMB and Apex Council meetings. Accordingly, he said the present government prevented the Centre from setting up such a tribunal through timely intervention.
He also accused the previous government of failing to obtain inter-state clearances. He alleged it never held discussions with the Chhattisgarh government on submergence issues. Meanwhile, he said the present government had met the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister three times to secure a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the Sammakka Sagar project.
The Minister said the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister had assured Telangana that the State would receive the NOC by the end of the month. He questioned whether BRS leaders had ever met their Chhattisgarh counterparts while in office.
Uttam targets BRS over irrigation projects
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government had pursued the Polavaram-Banakacherla proposal at every level. He said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had met Union ministers twice on the issue. The Irrigation Minister said he had held seven meetings. Senior officials had also taken up the matter repeatedly with the Union government, the Central Water Commission, GRMB, KRMB and the Polavaram Project Authority.
He said the government had approached the Supreme Court by filing an original suit and interlocutory applications. He added that the court had directed all respondents to file their replies within four weeks.
The Minister alleged that the previous BRS government remained a silent spectator when Andhra Pradesh diverted 200 TMC of floodwaters to Rayalaseema between 2018 and 2022. Finally, he challenged Harish Rao to answer allegations relating to the Kaleshwaram project. He also accused the BRS of politicising Telangana’s irrigation issues.