Harish Rao Alleges Irrigation Mismanagement Behind Palamuru Crop Losses

Former minister and BRS Legislature Party Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao has accused the Congress government of failing to manage Telangana’s irrigation and electricity resources, alleging that administrative lapses have left farmers struggling to save their crops. Addressing a media conference in Gajwel on Thursday, he demanded immediate measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply to agriculture and effectively utilise available water resources.

Harish Rao alleged that despite sufficient water being available in the Srisailam reservoir, the government had failed to lift the required quantity through the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme in Palamuru, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s home district. He claimed that the project should have operated its motors for 24 hours to lift 35 TMC of water but managed to lift only 13 TMC after running them for eight hours. He attributed the drought-like conditions in Palamuru to the government’s administrative failures rather than El Niño.

Harish Rao claimed that the previous 30 years of Congress and Telugu Desam Party rule had provided irrigation facilities to just 13,000 acres. In contrast, he said the government led by K. Chandrashekar Rao had invested thousands of crores of rupees to extend irrigation to seven lakh acres.

He accused the present government of allowing water from the Godavari and Krishna rivers to go unused despite its availability, alleging that Andhra Pradesh was benefiting while Telangana’s crops were drying up. He argued that better water management could have helped protect farmers from agricultural losses.

The BRS leader also criticised Revanth Reddy and Energy Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, accusing them of failing to anticipate electricity demand and plan procurement in advance. He alleged that officials were being suspended to cover up administrative shortcomings. According to Harish Rao, other states had prepared for potential power shortages linked to El Niño, while Telangana had failed to make adequate arrangements.

Harish Rao visited drought-hit fields in Burugupalli village of Gajwel mandal, Siddipet district, and interacted with farmers. He said farmers complained of receiving only three to four hours of electricity daily.

They also reported that low voltage was damaging transformers and agricultural pump motors, disrupting irrigation and leaving crops without sufficient water. Harish Rao urged the government to improve electricity supply, utilise available irrigation water and take immediate steps to prevent further crop losses.