Revanth creates a drought by not raising the waters of the Godavari: Harish

BRS leader T. Harish Rao during the Maha Padayatra organized by farmers of Chinnakodur mandal on Sunday.

BRS deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao claimed that the current drought was not caused by nature but by the Congress government’s failure to utilize the irrigation infrastructure created by the BRS government.

Mr. Rao, who participated in the 15-km Maha Padayatra organized by farmers of Chinnakodur mandal demanding filling of the Ranganayaka Sagar reservoir, accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of bringing Telangana into artificial drought through political vendetta against the Kaleshwaram project.

The vision of the Kaleshwaram project was to assure farmers that they would no longer have to depend on the uncertain monsoons if Godavari waters were lifted into the Telangana reservoirs. He said that during the six years under the BRS government, farmers never experienced water shortage as irrigation canals were opened whenever needed and reservoirs remained full even in summer.

He accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of refusing to operate the Kaleshwaram pumps only because the project was built under the leadership of Mr. K. Chandrashekhar Rao. “KCR-pounding will not bring water to the fields. Only Godavari water lifting will. Instead of abusing Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao daily, run the Kaleshwaram pumps and save the farmers of Telangana,” said Mr. Harish Rao.

He contrasted Telangana’s approach with that of neighboring Andhra Pradesh, arguing that while Andhra Pradesh used the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme to lift every available drop of Godavari water, the Telangana government allowed nearly 70 TMC of water to flow downstream unused.

According to Mr. Harish Rao, if this water was lifted through Kaleshwaram, reservoirs like Ranganayaka Sagar, Mallanna Sagar and Kondapochamma Sagar would be full.

He warned that if the Kaleshwaram pumps were not made operational immediately, the Congress government would be held responsible for the losses suffered by the farming community of Telangana.

Published – 19 Jul 2026 20:37 IST