Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday rejected BRS water diversion allegations involving the Krishna and Godavari rivers. He accused the opposition party of spreading misleading claims that Telangana’s river water was being diverted to Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting development works in Suryapet district, the Minister criticised the BRS leadership over its statements on irrigation. He alleged that the opposition was attempting to gain political advantage from drought conditions and the difficulties faced by farmers.
Furthermore, Uttam Kumar Reddy maintained that Telangana had utilised more water from both rivers under the Congress government than during the previous BRS administration.
Uttam rejects BRS water diversion allegations
Uttam Kumar Reddy described the opposition’s allegations concerning the diversion of Krishna and Godavari waters to Andhra Pradesh as baseless. He asserted that the Congress administration had increased the utilisation of both rivers since assuming office in December 2023.
“Since the Congress government assumed office on December 7, 2023, Telangana has recorded higher water utilization from both rivers, alongside record agricultural acreage, paddy yield, and grain procurement,” Uttam Kumar Reddy stated.
The Minister cited these agricultural indicators while defending the government’s irrigation record. He maintained that Telangana had drawn higher volumes of Krishna and Godavari waters under the current administration.
Moreover, he contrasted the Congress government’s performance with that of the previous BRS regime. Uttam Kumar Reddy accused the BRS leadership of using water shortages and drought-like conditions to advance its political interests.
He said the opposition should support farmers facing difficulties instead of making allegations against the government. According to the Minister, the prevailing water stress was linked to drought-like conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon.
However, he alleged that BRS leaders were deliberately taking advantage of the situation. The Minister maintained that the opposition’s allegations did not reflect the actual utilisation of Krishna and Godavari waters.
He reiterated that the Congress administration had achieved higher water usage and agricultural production despite the challenges. Earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy inspected ongoing development projects in Suryapet district.
He visited lift irrigation project sites to review the works being undertaken. Additionally, the Minister inspected construction work at the Young India Integrated Residential School. Nalgonda MP Raghuveer Reddy accompanied him during the inspection.
Kodad MLA N. Padmavathy Reddy and District Collector Tejas Nandlal Pawar also participated in the visit. The Minister reviewed the development activities before addressing reporters on irrigation and agricultural issues.
Congress claims higher river water utilisation
Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated that the state had recorded increased utilisation of Krishna and Godavari waters since December 7, 2023. He also pointed to what he described as record agricultural acreage, paddy production and grain procurement under Congress rule.
The Minister used these figures to challenge the BRS leadership’s claims regarding river water diversion. Furthermore, he accused the opposition of prioritising political criticism over the welfare of farmers affected by water shortages.
He maintained that the BRS water diversion allegations were unfounded and rejected suggestions that Telangana was losing its share of river waters to Andhra Pradesh.