BRS Leader Harish Rao Alleges Telangana Government Is Delaying Godavari Water Supply to Farmers

Senior BRS leader and former minister Harish Rao on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Telangana government, alleging that it is deliberately avoiding the use of available Godavari waters in order to continue its criticism of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project , even as farmers face growing irrigation concerns.

Speaking at a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Rao said the state government should be concentrating on providing water to farmers during the prevailing dry conditions instead of focusing on political confrontations. He demanded the immediate operation of the Kannepalli and Devadula pump houses , arguing that adequate water is available in the Godavari River to support irrigation needs.

Rao criticized Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for comments he described as inappropriate for a constitutional office-holder. He said farmers are seeking solutions to irrigation problems and that political rhetoric cannot replace governance during a crucial agricultural season.

According to Rao, recent visits by BRS leaders, including K.T. Rama Rao , to Medigadda demonstrated that sufficient water is available in the river. He contended that the government’s argument regarding the inability to operate the Kannepalli pumps lacks technical basis. Explaining the issue, Rao said the pumps can function even when water levels fall to 93.5 metres , while the current Godavari level stands at around 97.5 metres , leaving no obstacle to lifting water.

The former minister also accused the government of changing its stance toward retired irrigation engineers. He said experts who were once praised for their technical knowledge are now being threatened because they have recommended lifting Godavari water to help farmers. According to him, these engineers never claimed that the Medigadda barrage was unusable, but merely suggested transferring water to the Yellampalli Project through existing infrastructure.

Rao further stated that irrigation officials had reportedly informed the government that a temporary cofferdam , costing about ₹8.5 crore , would be sufficient to facilitate water transfer to Yellampalli. However, he alleged that no action has been taken due to political considerations.

Rejecting allegations of corruption in the Kaleshwaram project, Rao said the total expenditure on the project was around ₹87,000 crore , with only a small portion spent on the Medigadda-Yellampalli component. He maintained that the project’s reservoirs, canals, tunnels and pumping stations continue to function effectively.

The BRS leader warned that Yellampalli currently has only 4 to 5 TMC of usable water , which must meet drinking water, industrial, power generation and Hyderabad supply requirements. He cautioned that continued delays in lifting water could affect multiple sectors. Rao also alleged that failure to utilize Godavari waters through the Kannepalli, Devadula and Seetharama lift irrigation schemes indirectly benefits downstream projects in Andhra Pradesh. Urging the government to rise above political differences, he called for immediate action to safeguard crops and protect the interests of Telangana’s farmers.