Former Minister and BRS leader T. Harish Rao launched a scathing attack on the Congress government, alleging a “deliberate conspiracy” to hand over Telangana’s rightful share of Godavari waters to Andhra Pradesh. Addressing a media conference at Telangana Bhavan, Harish Rao said the situation had forced the BRS to convene an urgent press meet in the larger interest of the state.
“Politics is secondary for us; Telangana’s interests come first,” he asserted, warning that if the ongoing decisions are allowed to go through, this day would go down as a black day in Telangana’s water history. Citing poet Kaloji’s warnings, he termed the developments as a historic betrayal of the region.
Harish Rao accused the Revanth Reddy-led government of facilitating illegal diversion of Godavari waters, particularly through projects like Nallamala Sagar and Banakacherla, stating that only the names had changed while Andhra Pradesh’s “water plunder” continued unchecked. “If Chandrababu Naidu wields the knife, Revanth Reddy is doing the stabbing,” he remarked sharply.
He alleged that the Congress government had adopted a planned and systematic approach—first claiming issues were not on the agenda, then allowing discussions, signing documents, forming committees, and finally extending indirect consent by approaching the Supreme Court after tenders were finalised. “This is nothing but guru dakshina to Chandrababu Naidu,” Harish Rao charged. Questioning the participation of Telangana engineers in the Delhi irrigation meeting, he said the gathering, though projected as a dispute-resolution forum, was aimed at pushing Andhra Pradesh’s Nallamala Sagar link project, which could divert up to 200 TMC of Telangana’s water. He also objected to the deputation of an official who had earlier opposed key Telangana projects like Kaleshwaram and Sitarama Lift, calling it an act of betrayal.
Highlighting BRS achievements, Harish Rao said former CM KCR secured approvals for 400 TMC from the Godavari, obtained clearances for seven projects, and expanded irrigation to over 32 lakh acres through Kaleshwaram and Mission Kakatiya. In contrast, he alleged, the present government failed to submit even a single DPR and withdrew existing proposals.
The BRS leader demanded that the state immediately boycott the Delhi meeting, disclose responses to the conditions set by Telangana, and warned that BRS would launch a fresh movement to protect the state’s water rights. “Telangana society will never forgive this betrayal.”
