Hyderabad, Sept 21: Tension escalated at the Jurala Project on Monday as police stopped BRS leaders and farmers from reaching the project over irrigation water release.
Former Makthal MLA Chittem Rammohan Reddy faced detention at Nandimalla in Amarchinta. Farmers protesting nearby also faced police intervention. Heated arguments and scuffles broke out during the confrontation.
Rammohan Reddy said farmers needed water to protect standing crops under the Jurala ayacut. He said farmers had invested heavily in cultivation and needed irrigation support at a crucial stage.
He urged irrigation officials to release water at least once every three days. He said such a schedule could help farmers protect crops and reduce losses.
While he spoke to media persons, police took him into custody and tried to move him from the location. However, farmers and BRS workers stopped the police vehicle. They raised slogans and demanded immediate water release.
Jurala Project Water Protest Intensifies | BRS leaders detained amid Jurala water demand
Police also intercepted several senior BRS leaders who planned to reach the Jurala Project. Former ministers Singireddy Niranjan Reddy and C Laxma Reddy faced house arrest, along with former MLA A Venkateshwar Reddy and other leaders.
Police also detained BRS leaders at different locations in Wanaparthy, Atmakur, Amarchinta and Narva mandals. Authorities deployed a heavy police force around the project and cordoned off the dam area.
Farmers’ unions in Gadwal, backed by an all party coalition, also called for a Collectorate siege. They demanded irrigation water for crops in the Jurala ayacut.
The protests followed several days of demands for water release. Farmers had gathered at the project on Saturday and opened the head regulator of the left canal. They released water into the canal before irrigation officials intervened and closed the regulator.
Local reports also said officials cited water availability and administrative clearance while withholding canal releases. One report placed the project’s live storage at about 5.1 TMC against a gross capacity of 8.81 TMC on Sunday.
Farmers said their standing crops remained under stress after months of cultivation. They said they needed assured irrigation for the remaining crop period.
The dispute has now widened beyond the project site. BRS leaders and farmers have continued pressing for water release, while police have increased security around the project to prevent further attempts to open the regulators.
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