Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Dr. Kota Neelima, Congress Party State Vice President and Sanathnagar Constituency In-Charge, stated that the blame for laying the foundation for the Banakacharla-Godavari project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government lies squarely with former Chief Minister KCR. She said that KCR, in collaboration with the then AP CM, committed a grave injustice to Telangana. She criticized the previous government for failing to protect Telangana’s water interests.

Dr. Neelima remarked that KCR, after doing everything while in power, is now trying to tarnish the image of the Congress government after losing authority. She questioned whether it was not true that KCR had publicly said in the media that he would turn Rayalaseema into a fertile and prosperous region. She challenged BRS leaders, asking if they had forgotten KCR’s promise to act as a ‘big brother’ to every project planned in Andhra Pradesh. She claimed that the current AP government is moving ahead with the Banakacharla project based on the assurances given by KCR.

Dr. Neelima advised BRS leaders to stop maligning the Congress government. She said that it was because KCR claimed that there were 3,000 TMC of surplus waters in the Godavari that AP CM undertook the Banakacharla project. However, in reality, Telangana has a right to 968 TMC while Andhra Pradesh has a right to only 518 TMC in the Godavari basin. She quoted CM Revanth Reddy, who clarified that for Telangana to utilize its 968 TMC through its projects, it must first obtain approvals. Only the water that flows downstream after Telangana uses its rightful share is considered surplus.

She questioned where the so-called surplus waters actually are. If there truly are 3,000 TMC of surplus water, then the AP government should obtain an NOC from Telangana to use at least 1,500 TMC of it, as per CM Revanth Reddy’s remarks, which she supported. She held KCR responsible for the water crises in Telangana, calling his actions a betrayal.