BRS using drought as a political tool: Uttam

* “After the Congress government assumed office on December 7, 2023, Telangana has utilised more Krishna and Godavari waters. We have also achieved higher agricultural acreage, paddy production and procurement. The allegations that water is being diverted to Andhra Pradesh are completely baseless.”

N. Uttam Kumar Reddy

Irrigation Minister Capt.

Metro India News | Hyderabad/Palakeedu : Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday accused the BRS leadership of exploiting drought conditions and spreading false propaganda alleging diversion of Telangana's Krishna and Godavari waters to Andhra Pradesh. He said the main opposition party was seeking political mileage from farmers' distress instead of supporting them.

Strongly rejecting the allegations of water diversion, Uttam asserted that Telangana had utilised more Krishna and Godavari waters under the Congress government than during the previous BRS regime. He also pointed out that the State had recorded higher agricultural acreage, paddy production and procurement under the present government.

Uttam alleged that the BRS leadership was relishing the drought and water-stress conditions triggered by El Niño instead of standing with farmers. He said the irrigation sector had inherited serious challenges from the decade-long BRS rule and that the government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was addressing them.

Uttam said the government had paid approximately Rs 90,000 crore to paddy farmers through procurement operations since assuming office, with payments credited within 48 hours. He highlighted the Rs 500-per-quintal bonus introduced to encourage cultivation of fine varieties.

The Minister announced that the long-pending Janapadu Lift Irrigation Scheme would be commissioned by January-end 2027, providing Krishna water to 10,000 acres across 15 villages in the Pulichintala foreshore region. The project is expected to end decades of irrigation deprivation and enable farmers to cultivate two crops annually.

Uttam directed officials and contractors to ensure water reaches every acre by January 31, 2027, warning of serious action if the deadline was missed. He said pumps and motors had arrived, pump-house works were nearing completion and the substation would be ready by January-end. Pump-house works are expected to be completed by December-end.

The beneficiary villages include Janapadu, Palakeedu, Komatikunta, Othulapalem, Ellapuram, Sajapuram, Hanumayagudem, Nagireddygudem, Guduguntlapalem, Gundlapahad, Cheruvuthanda, Alingapuram, Gundeboinagudem, Raghavapuram and Migadampadu Thanda.

He also instructed officials to complete a one-kilometre canal link near Buddarapalem to facilitate water supply to Kalmala Thanda. Six local tanks, including Janapadu, Munimopula and Thummala, would also be filled under the scheme.

Warning of possible water stress during the ensuing Yasangi season due to El Niño, Uttam urged farmers to consider less water-intensive crops and avoid excessive irrigation. He said the government was working to manage available resources efficiently without compromising drinking-water requirements during summer. Adequate food grain stocks, including fine rice for public distribution, had also been arranged.

He participated in several official programmes and inspected the ongoing construction works of lift irrigation schemes and the Young India Integrated Residential School in Suryapet  district. Nalgonda MP Raghuveer Reddy, Kodad MLA N Padmavathy Reddy, District Collector Tejas Nandlal Pawar and other officials were present.