Revanth Reddy says KCR settled for one-third Krishna share when Telangana was entitled to over 70%

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday accused the previous BRS government, led by K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) , of surrendering Telangana’s rightful share of Krishna river waters by agreeing to a highly disadvantageous post-bifurcation arrangement.

The Chief Minister said that while undivided Andhra Pradesh was allocated 811 TMC of Krishna water , Telangana accepted just 299 TMC , roughly one-third of the total , after state bifurcation. He argued that this was a serious strategic failure, as international river-basin principles would have entitled Telangana to over 70% of the waters , given that the bulk of the Krishna basin lies within the state.

“This was not a legal compulsion. It was a political decision,” Revanth Reddy said, alleging that the previous government failed to assert Telangana’s basin-based rights during crucial negotiations.

Shift from Jurala to Srisailam Blamed for Further Damage

The Chief Minister said the damage was compounded when the KCR government shifted the Palamuru–Rangareddy project’s approved water intake point from Jurala to the Srisailam backwaters . This move, he said, not only required fresh approvals but also significantly weakened Telangana’s operational control over Krishna waters.

As a result, Andhra Pradesh is currently able to draw around 13 TMC , while Telangana can lift only about 2.5 TMC , despite having larger basin entitlement, he claimed.

Project Recast as Drinking Water Scheme

Revanth Reddy further alleged that the previous government projected the Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme as a drinking water project , including in affidavits filed before the Supreme Court. This, he said, diluted Telangana’s irrigation claims and weakened its legal position in water-sharing disputes.

He also claimed that nearly ₹27,000 crore was spent over seven years without submitting a Detailed Project Report (DPR) , leading to delays in environmental clearances and multiple court cases.

Cost Escalation Allegations

The Chief Minister accused the BRS government of allowing massive cost overruns in major irrigation projects. He said the Palamuru–Rangareddy project’s cost rose from an initial estimate of ₹30,000 crore to nearly ₹80,000 crore , while repeated design changes in the Kaleshwaram project pushed its cost to around ₹1.40 lakh crore .

Call for Assembly Debate

Revanth Reddy challenged KCR to attend the Assembly and participate in a detailed debate on river water sharing and irrigation projects. He said the government was willing to hear the former Chief Minister’s explanations and would extend due respect to him as the BRS president.

Political Reactions

The remarks triggered sharp reactions from the BRS, with party leaders accusing the Chief Minister of political grandstanding and double standards. They said Congress had historically failed to safeguard Telangana’s interests and was now attempting to rewrite the narrative.

Issue Returns to Centre Stage

With the Chief Minister placing river-basin entitlement at the heart of the debate, Krishna water sharing has once again emerged as a major political flashpoint in Telangana. The issue is expected to dominate discussions both inside and outside the Assembly in the days ahead.