The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Wednesday accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of being silent on the water projects taken up by Karnataka and Telangana and endangering the interests of Rayalaseema.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Tadepalli, YSRCP president Sake Sailajanath said the state government’s inaction and lack of clarity over Krishna river water management could plunge the drought-prone region into a deeper crisis. He asked that the matter be discussed in detail in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly and urged the government to express its stand on the matter.
Mr. Sake Sailajanath expressed concern over reports that the height of Almatti Dam in Karnataka may be further increased, increasing its storage capacity.
Any further increase in supplies in Almatti could push the flood tide to September or October, jeopardizing the irrigation prospects in Rayalaseema and also affecting Nellore and Prakasam districts, he argued. Referring to the approvals given by the Central Water Commission in 2018 for projects in the upper basin, he argued that their cumulative effect could result in drought-like conditions in large parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Sailajanath also asked Mr. Naidu to clarify Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks that the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme was stopped after discussions between the two chief ministers.
The demand for the immediate completion of the Rayalaseema and Banakacherla irrigation projects urged the government to create alternative water supply mechanisms to protect the interests of the region.
The YSRCP leader further appealed to the Center to lift the restrictions on foreign funding of the Rural Development Trust, saying that its long-term development initiatives in Anantapur, YSR and Kurnool districts should not be disrupted. Ensuring water security of Rayalaseema must remain the prime responsibility of the government, he said.
Published – 25 Feb 2026 20:51 IST
