Revanth dares KCR, Harish for irrigation flaws; govt to present white paper in Assembly

HYDERABAD: Holding former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for the “lopsided allocation of Krishna water” hurting the interests of Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has challenged him for a debate on the allocation of river water and irrigation projects in the ensuing budget session.

“Let us discuss the white paper on projects for two consecutive days. If required we can extend the session for a few more days. I invite KCR, KT Rama Rao, T Harish Rao. The Government will give ample time and assure them that the mikes will not be cut even for a minute,” the Chief Minister said addressing the media on Sunday at the State Secretariat.

Also Read: Managing projects by KRMB based on 3-member panel advises: Telangana Irrigation Secretary

Criticising the BRS leaders for “misleading people on the issue of handing over the management of projects on River Krishna to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB),” Revanth Reddy said that it was KCR who had accepted the handing over of projects to KRMB at the time of framing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. “KCR was the brain behind the Act and also one of the authors,” he said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that KCR and K Keshav Rao were MPs at the time of the formulation of the Act that laid the foundation for the handing over of the projects to KRMB.

“When the discussion between the Chief Ministers of both States on the allocation of 811 TMC of water between the sibling States was held on June 18, 2015, with the KRMB, KCR and the then Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao signed allocation of 299 TMC to Telangana and 511 TMC to Andhra Pradesh,” Revanth Reddy pointed out.

The then Chief Minister had signed the papers without blinking an eye without demanding for 50 percent share of Krishna River water even though 68 percent of the command area under the Krishna was in the geographical area of Telangana and only 32 percent was in AP, Revanth Reddy observed.

He pointed out that internationally accepted norms on river water sharing showed that Telangana was eligible to receive 500 TMC. “On the top of it, KCR accepted to hand over 15 projects to the KRMB in the meeting held in 2022.on May 19, 2023, during the 17th KRMB meeting, KCR declared the handing over of common projects to the Centre. He then allocated Rs 400 crore seed money for the KRMB in the 2023 annual budget.

Also Read: Telangana agrees to management of projects by KRMB, three-member committee to decide on share in waters

The Chief Minister reminded the BRS that the party was in alliance with the Congress in 2004. “When the decision was made to expand the capacity of Pothireddypadu head regulator from 11,000 tmc to 44,000 tmc by the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy-led Congress Government, Harish Rao and Nayani Narasimha Reddy were ministers and KCR was Union Minister. Why have they kept quiet,” the CM wondered.

He added that it was Congress leaders P Janardhan Reddy and Marri Sashidhar Reddy fought against the expansion of the head regulator and illegal transfer of water to Rayalaseema. “KCR surrendered to then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that KCR agreed to release 8 TMC of water to Rayalaseema at a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on January 14, 2020, in Pragathi Bhavan. “While the father (YSR) took away 4 TMC every day, the son (YS Jagan) is taking away 8 TMC with the help of Rayalaseema lift,” Revanth Reddy said. He added that then Chief Minister KCR even refused to attend a meeting to stop AP from calling tenders for the Rayalaseema lift irrigation project.

He said that the BRS Government even failed to complete the SLBC (Srisailam Left Bank Canal) project in a decade. KCR neglected projects. He couldn’t even complete the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Project. The Chief Minister said adding that the Congress Government would speed up the construction work.