Hyderabad, Sept. 21: BRS leader T Harish Rao on Monday condemned the detention of farmers and BRS leaders protesting for irrigation water to Jurala ayacut lands.
Harish Rao demanded the immediate release of irrigation water and the detained farmers and BRS leaders.
He said former Ministers S Niranjan Reddy, C Laxma Reddy and V Srinivas Goud were detained.
Former MLAs Chittem Rammohan Reddy and Alla Venkateshwar Reddy were also among those supporting the farmers, he said.
Harish Rao Questions Water Release To Jurala Ayacut
Harish Rao questioned why Krishna River water was being taken to Kuppam while farmers in neighbouring Palamuru were seeking irrigation water.
He alleged that the government had failed to utilise the Narlapur, Yedula, Karivena and Vattem reservoirs.
According to Harish Rao, the four reservoirs have a combined capacity of around 50 TMCft.
He also questioned why the pumps were not being operated despite what he described as adequate Krishna River flows over the past two-and-a-half years.
Harish Rao alleged that water was being released to Andhra Pradesh while Telangana farmers were being denied irrigation water.
He demanded answers from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy.
Harish Rao also claimed that around 8.4 TMCft was available in the Jurala project.
He alleged that police had cordoned off the project and detained people demanding water.
He further criticised the government for citing El Nino while withholding irrigation water.
Meanwhile, police stopped BRS leaders and farmers from reaching the Jurala project on Monday. Former MLA Chittem Rammohan Reddy was taken into custody, while senior BRS leaders were placed under house arrest.
Farmers have been demanding water for their standing crops. Reports said some farmers had earlier opened the project’s head regulator to release water into the left canal before officials stopped the release.
The Telangana government’s position, as reported in connection with the dispute, has cited reduced water availability and El Nino related conditions as factors affecting water management.
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