BRS surrendered Telangana's share in Krishna River to AP, alleges Uttam Kumar Reddy

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Monday, stating that it would not hand over control of its projects to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) unless the board agreed to the conditions laid out by the state government.

Giving a PowerPoint presentation after moving the resolution, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy clarified that the present Congress government never agreed to hand over the project's control to the KRMB.

In his presentation, Uttam Kumar Reddy accused the previous BRS regime of surrendering Telangana's interest by agreeing to 512 TMCs for Andhra Pradesh and only 299 TMCs for Telangana. He outlined a series of events, including the Andhra Pradesh government's alleged illegal water diversion during elections and subsequent issues related to the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift scheme. He criticised the BRS leaders for failing to protect Telangana's water rights and demanded that they tender an apology to the people of Telangana.

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The Irrigation Minister provided a chronological account of meetings and events surrounding the KRMB project handover. He asserted that Telangana's decisions inadvertently benefited Andhra Pradesh, leading to a smooth tendering process for the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. The Andhra Pradesh Govt trespassed and forcefully occupied the right half of the NSP Dam on November 29, 2023, and illegally released 5,000 cusecs of water to the canal without any water release order from KRMB.

Referring to the meeting held on June 18 and 19, 2015, he said that an interim ad hoc agreement was made between the AP and Telangana for the sharing of 811 TMC water in the ratio of 512 TMC:299 TMC based on the earmarked utilisation made by erstwhile A.P. The then BRS Govt entered into this agreement, which would have serious implications on the use. The KWDT-I did not make any project-wise allocation; instead, it made an en bloc allocation.

Although Telangana dominated in terms of basin parameters like catchment area, drought-prone area, basin population, and cultivable area, Telangana was eligible for the 70 percent ratio and should have negotiated for any other ratio, which was not tied to 299:512, thus, confined the future claims of Telangana. As a result, AP heavily relies on this document by placing it before the Tribunal and other forums advocating the allocation to be made on similar lines. It became impossible for Telangana to come out of this situation.

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He said that AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and then Telangana Chief Minister KCR talked for hours and “ate biryani” together. A video clip of CM Jagan's speech praising KCR in the AP Legislative Assembly was played in the House.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said Andhra Pradesh would draw 8 TMC of water daily if the Rayalaseema lift was completed.

He also slammed the previous BRS regime for neglecting the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift scheme.

Stating that the Congress government had not decided on the project handover, he said that under no circumstances would projects be handed over to KRMB without agreeing to the conditions. BRS leaders were making baseless allegations to mislead the people,he said.