Harish Rao criticizes Congress government for failing to protect Telangana’s water rights

Former minister and BRS MLA Harish Rao has sharply criticized the Congress-led Telangana government, alleging it has completely failed to safeguard the state’s water interests. He urged the government to stop making empty promises and take concrete action to protect Telangana’s water rights.

Harish Rao called for a resolution in the Assembly opposing the approvals given for the Banakacharla project, assuring full support from BRS if such a step is taken. He also suggested staging a protest in Delhi to demand the revocation of permissions granted by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

Targeting Minister Revanth Reddy, Harish Rao labeled him “a betrayer of movements in the past, and a betrayer of water today.” He criticized the appointment of Adityanath Das - who, during his tenure in the Andhra Pradesh government, allegedly obstructed Telangana’s water projects - as Telangana’s water advisor and as a member of the Banakacharla committee, calling it a betrayal of the state’s interests.

Harish Rao warned that whether it is the Banakacharla or Nallamala Sagar project, the outcome would ultimately be water exploitation against Telangana. He claimed that while the Andhra Pradesh government announced it was halting the Banakacharla project, Telangana’s leadership prematurely took credit. In reality, he said, water from Polavaram was being diverted to link with Banakacharla and Nallamala Sagar instead.

Highlighting legal provisions, Harish Rao noted that if Godavari water is transferred to Krishna, according to the Bachawat award, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra should receive water in the 45:21:14 ratio. He emphasized that these rules apply to both the Polavaram and Banakacharla projects, accusing the Andhra Pradesh government of moving ahead aggressively under the guise of Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar projects.

Harish Rao criticized the Congress government for remaining inactive on these critical water issues. He warned that BRS would not remain silent if Telangana’s water rights were compromised. He demanded that Revanth Reddy cancel the committee he had appointed and clearly state in the Assembly that his government opposes the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar projects.