Revanth Gave Away Tungabhadra Water To Naidu, DK: Harish
Harish Rao alleged that the meeting was so secretive that even Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy was made to wait outside the room where it was held
HYDERABAD: Former irrigation minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao on Saturday demanded an explanation from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his claim of a “historic agreement” reached by Telangana with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on the use of Tungabhadra river water.
Addressing a press conference, Harish Rao said Revanth Reddy’s remarks at an event marking the replacement of gates at the Tungabhadra dam, attended by the chief ministers of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and the Union water resources minister, concealed the fact that the Congress government was surrendering Telangana’s river water interests to neighbouring states and the Centre.
“Did Revanth Reddy receive concrete assurances on Telangana’s share of 15.9 tmc ft for the RDS, permanent closure of unauthorised Andhra Pradesh outlets on the RDS, or repairs to the RDS canal system and dam? Revanth Reddy must publicly explain what transpired during the closed-door meeting attended only by the chief ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, along with a senior Union water resources official,” Harish Rao said.
He said Karnataka was moving ahead with the proposed 35 tmc ft Naveli reservoir upstream of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), while Andhra Pradesh was planning the 20 tmc ft Gundrevula project downstream of Rajolibanda.
“This means impounding 55 tmc ft of water, affecting inflows into the Srisailam reservoir. In turn, this will jeopardise Telangana’s Kalwakurthy and Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation schemes,” he added.
Harish Rao alleged that the meeting was so secretive that even Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy was made to wait outside the room where it was held.
He further alleged that Telangana’s silence on Karnataka’s Tungabhadra projects was a quid pro quo by Revanth Reddy in return for Karnataka’s no-objection certificate for the Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme. Karnataka had written to Telangana asking it not to raise objections to its construction of three unauthorised barrages on the Tungabhadra, and the Congress government had remained silent, he claimed.
