Harish Rao objects to handing over of projects to KRMB, says move detrimental to interests of Telangana

HYDERABAD: Former Minister T Harish Rao strongly objected to the handing over of common projects to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and said that the Congress Government had failed to protect the interests of the State, particularly the erstwhile districts of Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda, and Khammam.

Reacting to the announcement of the engineer-in-chief of the I&CAD Department of Telangana that the State had agreed to hand over projects, Harish Rao said that the State Government was in utter confusion about the management of the projects.

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“On January 27, 2024, the State Government reiterated the issues that the BRS Government had mentioned in its correspondence with the Union Jal Shakthi Ministry. All of sudden on Thursday the Government agreed to management by KRMB along with the ENC of Andhra Pradesh,” the former Irrigation Minister said.

Asking the Government why there was so much confusion on an issue that was so crucial for the State’s future, Harish Rao said that the Congress Government had been misguiding the people of the State.

“When I said that the Congress Government has agreed to hand over Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar to KRMB the Congress leaders made fun of me saying that they do not have to learn lessons from me. But what have they finally done,” Harish Rao fumed.

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He opined that the acceptance of management by KRMB meant that Telangana must here on get permission from the board to release water for drinking water purposes. “How can Telangana draw water when the Hydel power station will be under the control of KRMB?,” he pointed out.

The senior BRS leader cautioned that even Telangana I&CAD engineers could not approach a project without KRMB’s permission. “Is this the change that the Congress has promised the people of Telangana? Is handing over our rights to Andhra Pradesh is protecting our interests?” Harish Rao asked the Government.

Recalling the 2021 gazette notification of the Centre, Harish Rao said that the BRS Government refused to hand over the project management to the board. “On Saturday the Chief Minister reviews the issue. Gives a feeling that the Government is keen on protecting our interests and today agrees to handover projects to KRMB,” Harish Rao said.

Urging retired engineers and intellectuals to come out and criticise the Government’s move, Harish Rao said that the people of the State should realise who had the guts to protect their interests.