Harish Rao Accuses Revanth Reddy of Compromising Telangana Water Rights

In Hyderabad on Saturday, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Deputy Floor Leader and former Minister T. Harish Rao accused Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of compromising the state's water rights. Speaking at a press conference, Rao demanded that the Congress government disclose the details of a recent closed-door meeting held between the Chief Ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka regarding Tungabhadra water sharing.

Rao alleged that the Chief Minister’s lack of understanding of river water issues poses a serious threat to Telangana’s future water security and its legitimate rights in the Krishna, Godavari, and Tungabhadra river projects. He claimed the previous BRS government had fought to secure approvals for major irrigation projects, whereas the current Congress government is surrendering the state's interests to the Centre and neighbouring states.

During the press conference, the BRS leader questioned why Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior irrigation officials were reportedly kept out of the meeting. He noted the meeting was attended only by the three Chief Ministers and a senior Union Water Resources official.

Rao raised concerns over projects planned by neighbouring states. He stated that Karnataka is moving forward with the proposed 35 TMC Naveli Reservoir upstream of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), while Andhra Pradesh is planning the 20 TMC Gundrevula Project downstream of the RDS. According to Rao, these projects would allow the two states to impound nearly 55 TMC of water, severely affecting inflows into the Srisailam Reservoir and jeopardising dependent projects like the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project.

Furthermore, Rao accused Karnataka of constructing three unauthorised barrages on the Tungabhadra River without statutory approvals.

He questioned whether Chief Minister Reddy had secured any concrete assurances regarding Telangana’s rightful allocation of 15.90 TMC under the RDS, the permanent closure of unauthorised Andhra Pradesh outlets on the RDS, or necessary repairs to the RDS canal system and dam. Rao also dismissed celebrations over the replacement of gates at the Tungabhadra Dam, stating that the state's real concern must be securing its rightful share of river waters rather than symbolic events.