KCR creating water disputes to save BRS: Telangana CM

Revanth Reddy added that since the very existence of BRS is at stake following the defeat in the state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections and state Assembly bypolls.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, on Thursday, January 1, alleged that the former Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), is creating water disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to keep his party afloat.

The Chief Minister accused KCR of trying to save the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) by inciting regional sentiments and raking up the name of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in Telangana. He also accused the BRS President of skipping the state Assembly due to fear of being questioned over siphoning of funds in the name of irrigation projects.

Revanth Reddy was speaking at a meeting, where state Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy made a PowerPoint presentation on irrigation projects and river water issues before ministers, Congress legislators, public representatives and senior officials. The presentation was made to prepare ministers and MLAs counter the attack by Opposition BRS in the state Assembly during the Winter Session debate on irrigation and river water issues.

Revanth Reddy dared KCR to come to the state Assembly and participate in the debate. He recalled that the Telangana movement was mainly for water rights. “If the water of Krishna and Godavari rivers was fully utilised during the 10-year rule of BRS, Telangana would have made huge progress,” he said.

Saying that 811 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of Krishna water was allocated to undivided Andhra Pradesh and after bifurcation, with AP being allocated 512 TMC and Telangana being earmarked 299 TMC, the Chief Minister said.

He claimed that KCR signed documents and accepted 299 TMC water for Telangana. “KCR’s signature became an advantage for Andhra Pradesh. He agreed for 66 per cent water share for Andhra Pradesh and 34 per cent for Telangana,” he said.

Revanth Reddy added that if the course of Krishna river is analysed, Telangana should get 71 per cent of its water. “KCR did not make strong arguments in this regard. Today, the Krishna River Management Board is saying that KCR had accepted 299 TMC of water,” he said.

The Congress leader added that the very existence of BRS is at stake following the party’s defeat in the elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly, including the Jubilee Hills bypoll. “Realising this, KCR is again trying to create water dispute between the two states to save his party. As part of this, he is making false propaganda against the Congress government,” he said.

The Chief Minister claimed that KCR did not submit a detailed project report (DPR) for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Irrigation Project for seven years. “Without preparing DPR, he spent Rs 27,000 crore. Since DPR was not prepared, there was no environmental clearance for the project,” he said.

Revanth Reddy said when cases were filed in the Supreme Court to stop construction of the Palamuru project without approvals, the KCR government filed an affidavit saying that it is not an irrigation project. The Supreme Court was told that the project will utilise only 7.15 TMC for drinking water purpose, he said.

He also alleged that KCR paid Rs 27,000 crore to pump and lift companies for commissions.

“He (KCR) conspired to make it a lift project so that he can make more commissions,” the CM said. He added that the Palamuru project was originally designed to draw water from Jurala but KCR realised that if this was done, there will be no need for lifting the water. “Hence, KCR changed it to Srisailam. However, only 0.25 TMC could be drawn from Srisailam back waters,” he said.