Offers discussion on Krishna-Godavari issues in Assembly, Council, or even at Erravalli farmhouse if KCR is unwell

metro india news  I hyderabad

The Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy issued a strong challenge to former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, inviting him to an open debate on Telangana’s water issues — the Krishna-Godavari river water disputes, decisions made during the united Andhra Pradesh era, the 9.5-year BRS rule, and the current Congress administration’s one-and-a-half-year track record. The CM said he was open to holding this debate at the Assembly, Legislative Council, or even at KCR’s Erravalli farmhouse if the BRS chief was unwell.

Speaking at a special presentation at Praja Bhavan on Wednesday evening, Revanth lambasted the BRS for mishandling river water allocations and compromising Telangana's irrigation future. He described KCR's decisions on water sharing with Andhra Pradesh as a betrayal of Telangana's interests, accusing him of signing away rights that led to severe losses, particularly in the Krishna basin. “The injustice done is so grave, it deserves at least a hundred whip lashes,” Revanth remarked.

He questioned the need for informal public discourse through clubs, pubs, and media stunts, urging instead for institutional debate in the Assembly where the truth can be placed on record. He emphasized his government’s commitment to restoring Telangana's rightful share of river waters, safeguarding irrigation infrastructure, and holding the previous regime accountable.

Uttam Kumar Reddy’s warning on Kaleshwaram safety

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted alarming structural risks in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, warning that 44 villages and even Bhadrachalam could be endangered if the Medigadda, Annaram, or Sundilla barrages fail. Citing a National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report, he criticized the BRS regime for deviating from the Detailed Project Report and ignoring engineering safety to inflate project costs.

Bhatti’s critique of BRS wasteful spending

Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka stated that while irrigation to 24 lakh acres could have been ensured with just Rs 42,000 crore, the BRS government squandered Rs 1.45 lakh crore in the name of a “Godavari redesign” without adding a single new irrigated acre. He said that if Krishna projects begun by Congress were completed, today’s water disputes would not have existed at all.