Congress betraying Telangana’s Krishna water interests: Harish Rao

Former Telangana minister and BRS MLA T. Harish Rao on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, accusing it of betraying Telangana’s interests in Krishna river waters. Addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan, Harish Rao made a detailed PowerPoint presentation titled “River Waters - Congress Betrayals”, alleging that the present government has failed to protect the state’s rightful share.

Harish Rao said the Congress government denied the BRS an opportunity to make a PowerPoint presentation in the Assembly because it feared that facts and figures would expose its “failures and false claims.” He asserted that while the government may avoid discussion inside the House, the BRS would take the issue to the public and launch a renewed mass movement for Krishna waters under the leadership of K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

According to Harish Rao, Telangana recorded the lowest utilisation of Krishna waters during Congress rule after the formation of the state. He alleged that Congress leaders lack even basic clarity on Telangana’s legitimate share in the Krishna basin and questioned their ability to safeguard the state’s rights.

Targeting Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Harish Rao accused them of making misleading statements on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project. He said that during seven years of BRS rule, ₹1,358 crore was spent and 11.5 km of tunnelling was completed. In contrast, he alleged, the Congress government spent only ₹195 crore in two years and managed to excavate just 18 metres. “With such poor performance, the Congress has no moral right to criticise the BRS,” he said.

Harish Rao also accused the Chief Minister of deceiving farmers in his own constituency, Kodangal. He claimed that if canals were constructed from Karivena and Udandapur reservoirs, water could be supplied to 63,000 acres. Instead, the government proposed three lift irrigation schemes that would benefit only 53,000 acres, which he described as a “deliberate compromise in farmers’ interests.” He questioned whether the government’s priority was irrigation or commissions.

Defending former Chief Minister KCR, Harish Rao rejected allegations that he had harmed Telangana’s water interests. He said KCR fought relentlessly for the state, writing 32 letters to the Centre to secure Section 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. He noted that KCR pursued the matter at every level - before tribunals and even the Supreme Court - ensuring Telangana could now strongly present its case on Krishna waters.

Harish Rao said the benefits Telangana gained from statehood were matched by the gains achieved through securing Section 3, which strengthened the state’s legal position on river water sharing.

Recalling past grievances, Harish Rao accused the Congress of repeatedly undermining Telangana’s development - both before and after bifurcation. He alleged that key irrigation projects such as Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi were excluded from the 11th Schedule during state division, causing long-term damage to the region. “Then and now, Congress remains the number one villain for Telangana,” he said.

Concluding his address, Harish Rao warned that misleading statements in the Assembly would not go unchallenged. He said people were becoming increasingly aware of the facts and that the Congress would soon be held accountable. The BRS, he added, is preparing for another decisive struggle to protect Telangana’s water rights.