War of Words Over Revanth's Statement Between TD, YSRC on Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme

Vijayawada: A sharp political confrontation has erupted between the ruling Telugu Desam–led alliance and the opposition YSR Congress over the stalled Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, following some remarks by Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh textiles minister S. Savita on Sunday held former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy responsible for the project’s suspension.

Addressing the media at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram here, she said the lift irrigation scheme was stalled in 2020 after the National Green Tribunal imposed a stay due to the absence of statutory clearances. This was during the YSRC rule.

Savita accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of attempting to shift blame onto the present government through a “poisonous propaganda” via the YSRc-backed media.

Describing Jagan Mohan Reddy as a “betrayer” of Rayalaseema, the minister alleged that there was more of political theatrics than governance during his tenure. She cited a February 2024 incident in Rajupeta village of Chittoor district, where Jagan Reddy allegedly staged a “publicity event claiming release of water into the Handri–Neeva canal.” This, she said, was only for the gate “to be removed the next day,” and no water flowed through it.

Savita contrasted this with the record of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, crediting him with providing both drinking and irrigation water to Rayalaseema through projects such as Galeru–Nagari, Gandikota reservoir filling and the Handri–Neeva Sujala Sravanthi scheme.

She asserted that Andhra Pradesh would not compromise on its water rights.

Water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu reinforced the government’s stand, stating that the Rayalaseema Lift Project was approved on May 5, 2020, during Jagan Reddy’s tenure, and that the NGT stay followed on May 20 the same year.

He said while the previous government spent only ₹2,000 crore on Rayalaseema irrigation over five years, the present government spent `8,000 crore in 18 months and completed the pending Handri–Neeva works within a year.

The YSRC, however, mounted a fierce counterattack. Party leaders, including Kurnool district president SV Mohan Reddy, former minister Sake Sailajanath and former MLA V Vishweshwar Reddy, accused Naidu of colluding with Revanth Reddy to “deliberately halt the project for personal and political gains.”

They claimed Revanth Reddy’s statements in the Telangana assembly exposed an alleged understanding between the two leaders.

YSRC leaders termed the project’s suspension a “death warrant” for Rayalaseema, warning that continued inaction would deepen the region’s drought crisis. They sought immediate revival of the scheme and threatened a public agitation involving farmers if the works were not resumed.

Reaffirming their stand, the YSRC asserted that the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project would be restarted and completed when “Jagan Reddy returns to power,” so as to safeguard the region’s water rights.