Congress Vows to Reclaim Krishna River Rights: Uttam Kumar Reddy Slams BRS for “Betrayal of Telangana”

Hyderabad, July 9, 2025 – Telangana Irrigation Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has launched a scathing attack on the previous BRS government, accusing it of compromising Telangana’s water rights by enabling Andhra Pradesh to illegally divert Krishna River water. He said the Congress government will fight a legal, technical, and administrative battle to restore the state’s rightful share and fix the engineering blunders of the past.

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Speaking at Dr. Jyotirao Phule Praja Bhavan, Uttam made two detailed presentations — one exposing unauthorised water diversions by AP, and the other explaining how the abandonment of the Pranahita-Chevella project led to the costly and failed Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.

Krishna Water Diversion: “A Decade of Compromise”

Uttam Reddy blamed BRS leaders for not opposing AP’s expansion of the Muchumarri and Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Schemes, which raised AP’s daily drawal capacity from Srisailam reservoir to 11 TMC, in violation of the AP Reorganisation Act and without CWC or Apex Council approval.

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He pointed out that water diversion by AP skyrocketed from 245 TMC (2004–14) to 1,192 TMC (2014–24), and accused BRS of accepting unjust water-sharing formulas (34:66) and failing to object officially.

“The BRS government not only remained silent but actively facilitated AP’s illegal drawals. Telangana’s interests were sidelined for political convenience,” he said.

Congress Pushes for 71% Share in Krishna Waters

The current government, he added, has rejected the BRS’s acceptance of the 34:66 ratio, and has demanded 575 TMC (71%) of Krishna water through a detailed submission to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II, based on Telangana’s basin parameters like catchment area, drought vulnerability, and agricultural need.

Kaleshwaram Project: A ₹1.27 Lakh Crore Blunder?

Uttam lambasted the decision to abandon the gravity-based Pranahita-Chevella project—which had CWC clearance and 80% Central support—in favor of the high-cost Kaleshwaram project. He called it the “most expensive lift irrigation failure in India”, citing a projected cost of ₹1.27 lakh crore and a post-construction collapse of Medigadda Barrage (Pier No. 20) in 2023.

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He detailed the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)’s findings, which blamed poor geotechnical surveys, flawed design, and lack of safety checks. Of the 155 TMC lifted, only 27 TMC actually reached the fields, irrigating less than 1 lakh acres — a far cry from the 37 lakh acres claimed.

Congress to Rebuild with Accountability

The Congress government, Uttam said, has already initiated reforms:

• Submitted project-specific allocations to the Tribunal
• Sanctioned telemetry systems for real-time monitoring
• Engaged CWC-vetted engineers for redesign
• Will not store water in structurally unsafe barrages

“This government is committed to rebuilding what the BRS destroyed — not just physically, but institutionally,” he said.

Strong Words for BRS and Its Leaders

Calling the Kaleshwaram decision “engineering and financial suicide,” Uttam stated that the BRS regime prioritized optics over outcomes, ignoring expert advice and public safety.

“The real betrayal lies in ignoring farmers, wasting public funds, and failing to secure Telangana’s future. We’re correcting that,” he declared.

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