‘What was decided behind closed doors’

metro india news  I hyderabad :

Former Minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao on Saturday questioned the secrecy surrounding the recent closed-door meeting of the Chief Ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on river water issues, demanding that the State Government immediately disclose the details of any understanding reached among the three states. He said matters relating to Telangana's water rights and irrigation future cannot be decided behind closed doors and must be discussed transparently before the people and the Telangana Legislative Assembly.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Harish Rao questioned why only the three Chief Ministers and a senior Union Water Resources official attended the meeting while Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior irrigation officials were reportedly kept outside. He asked whether any commitments had been made on Krishna and Godavari waters, pending irrigation projects or river linking proposals without consulting stakeholders. Calling for complete transparency, he urged the Chief Minister to place the entire matter before the Assembly and consult all political parties before taking any decision affecting the State's water security.

Harish Rao accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of compromising Telangana's legitimate interests over Krishna and Godavari waters for political considerations. He alleged that while the previous BRS Government secured approvals for several major irrigation projects, the present Congress Government had failed to protect the State's interests before the Centre and neighbouring states.

He expressed concern over Karnataka's proposed 35 TMC Naveli Reservoir upstream of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme and Andhra Pradesh's proposed 20 TMC Gundrevula Project downstream, alleging that the projects could together impound nearly 55 TMC of water, reducing inflows into the Srisailam Reservoir and affecting key Telangana irrigation schemes, including Kalwakurthy and Palamuru Rangareddy.

Harish Rao also questioned whether the State Government had secured Telangana's rightful 15.90 TMC allocation under the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme, ensured closure of unauthorised Andhra Pradesh outlets, or opposed unauthorised barrages allegedly being constructed by Karnataka on the Tungabhadra River.

He further alleged that despite Telangana's allocation of 968 TMC of Godavari waters, the Congress Government had failed to secure approvals for any additional irrigation projects over the last two and a half years. Warning that proposed river linking plans could undermine Telangana's interests, Harish Rao asserted that the BRS would continue its democratic and legal fight to safeguard every drop of water belonging to the State.