KTR Warns of Jala Soudha Siege Over Proposed GRMB Meeting on Telangana Projects

BRS working president KT Rama Rao warned on Tuesday that his party would lay siege to the Irrigation Department office at Jala Soudha in Hyderabad if the Centre and the Telangana Congress government do not boycott an upcoming meeting of the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB). The proposed meeting was called to review permissions granted for seven irrigation projects in Telangana.

Speaking to mediapersons in Hyderabad, Rama Rao stated that the Centre had granted approvals for the seven projects during the previous BRS administration. He questioned the decision to place the cancellation of these permissions on the GRMB agenda following a demand from the Andhra Pradesh government. He challenged BJP MPs from Telangana to boycott the meeting to protect the state's interests.

Rama Rao alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was attempting to influence the Centre at Telangana's expense. He stated that the BRS would continue to fight on behalf of Telangana farmers.

Criticising both the Congress state government and the BJP-led Union government, Rama Rao highlighted the Centre's refusal to grant national project status to the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS). He remarked that eight Congress and eight BJP MPs from Telangana had failed to secure national status for any project in the state, calling their output "8 plus 8 equals zero."

Rama Rao also accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attempting to divert public attention through the Varuna Yagam after failing to operate lift irrigation pumps when water was required. He demanded that the pumps at the Kannepalli pump house be switched on immediately.

Addressing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Rama Rao raised concerns over the possible deletion of around 74 lakh votes and alleged anomalies in another 60 lakh entries. He said the BRS is preparing to ensure genuine voters are not removed prior to the voter list publication on August 17, with a state-level meeting being considered for August 13 or 14 following discussions with BRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao.