Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday pledged that the Congress government would firmly defend the state’s rights over Krishna and Godavari waters, describing them as crucial for farmers’ livelihoods and the region’s future.
During an inspection of irrigation works in Suryapet district, Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised the previous BRS government for mishandling water allocations and pushing irrigation finances into crisis, pointing to ₹16,000 crore in annual interest payments on irrigation loans.
He said the BRS had agreed to limit Telangana’s share of Krishna water to 299 TMC, while allocating 512 TMC to Andhra Pradesh from a combined 811 TMC, calling it a betrayal of Telangana’s interests.
He asserted that the Congress administration would fight at all levels, including in courts if needed, to protect Telangana’s share, and stressed that allocations must consider catchment, ayacut and population.
Recalling the abandoned Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahitha-Chevella project, estimated at ₹38,000 crore, Uttam Kumar Reddy accused the BRS of discarding it in favour of the ₹1 lakh crore Kaleshwaram scheme, which he described as a failure. He claimed the state could have saved ₹62,000 crore and funded several other irrigation works if the earlier plan had gone ahead.
He further criticised the spending of ₹27,500 crore on the Palamuru-Rangareddy project and ₹10,000 crore on the Sitarama project without adding new irrigated land.
He noted that under the Congress government, farmers produced a record 281 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, supported by the Rythu Bharosa scheme’s direct financial transfers of ₹9,000 crore in nine days.
At the Jawahar Jan Pahad lift irrigation scheme site, Uttam Kumar Reddy warned contractors to speed up work and, if required, seek design modifications through the Central Design Organisation.
He reiterated that Telangana’s farmers deserved guaranteed and timely irrigation, and the government would remain committed to delivering it.