Harish Rao Demands Suspension of CM, Deputy CM Over Power Crisis

Siddipet:  BRS Legislature Party deputy floor leader and former minister T. Harish Rao on Thursday demanded suspension of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka over their alleged failure to ensure uninterrupted power supply and irrigation water to farmers in Telangana. During a visit of drought-hit paddy fields in Burugupalli village of Gajwel mandal in Siddipet district on Thursday, Harish Rao met distressed farmers and heard their accounts of crop losses. He accused the Congress government of administrative failures that have led to drought and inadequate power supply, apart from alleged diversion of irrigation water. “This is not a drought caused by nature, but one created entirely by the Congress government,” the former minister charged, claiming that nearly 12 lakh acres of crops have dried up across Telangana during the ongoing kharif season. He accused the government of ignoring warnings from scientists and agricultural officials about the possible impact of El Nino nearly 10 months ago. He alleged that the government failed to secure adequate coal stocks and arrange advance power purchases, leaving farmers without sufficient electricity when they needed it. Harish Rao compared Revanth Reddy to Roman Emperor Nero, who played a fiddle while Rome burned. He accused the Telangana CM of remaining indifferent while farmers suffered crop losses.

He contrasted the Congress government’s response with measures taken by the previous BRS government during the Covid-19 pandemic. He claimed that former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had ensured uninterrupted power and irrigation, resulting in record agricultural production despite the Covid crisis. The BRS leader alleged that farmers in Burugupalli are spending considerable amounts on diesel generators and pumping water from borewells to save their crops. He cited the case of farmer Aravind Reddy, who has reportedly spent Rs 21,000 over three days to irrigate his three-acre field, but lost crop over 2.5 acres because of inadequate power supply. Harish Rao alleged that the Congress government is deliberately restricting the operation of irrigation pumps at Kanepalli, Devadula, and Kalwakurthy for political reasons. He claimed that the government is reluctant to lift water because the move would give credit to the previous BRS regime. The former minister asked the state government to operate the pumps round the clock and release water from Mallanna Sagar to protect standing crops over the next 20–30 days. He objected to imposition of an electricity tariff burden of Rs 5,420 crore on consumers during the drought.

Harish Rao demanded that the government declare drought-hit mandals, provide compensation for crop losses across 12 lakh acres, and release Rs 12,000 to each agricultural labourer under the Indiramma Atmeeya Bharosa scheme.

He said the government should act immediately to protect the remaining standing crops and provide relief to farmers and agricultural labourers. He wanted funds to be released for district collectors to address drinking water shortages. He asked the government to roll back electricity tariff hikes and bus fare increases.