Scrap Rayalaseema Projects, Revanth Tells Naidu
Says he will take lead in fighting for Telangana's rights
Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday urged his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to scrap the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP), stating that it posed a serious threat to Telangana’s water interests.
Revanth Reddy said the RLIP would draw 3 TMC ft of water daily from the Krishna River, severely impacting water availability in Telangana.
“If Naidu truly believes in the equitable development of both Telugu-speaking states, he must cancel the Rayalaseema project immediately,” Revanth Reddy said, while addressing a public meeting in Jataprolu of Nagarkurnool district after launching a development programme.
He urged Naidu to cooperate with the Telangana government for the early completion of long-pending Krishna basin projects in the state.
Warning of consequences if Andhra Pradesh continued to ignore Telangana's concerns, Revanth Reddy said, “If our repeated appeals are neglected, I will personally lead the battle to protect Telangana’s water rights.”
Revanth Reddy pointed out that Andhra Pradesh had earlier planned to draw 4 tmc ft from the Srisailam backwaters, but the current plan aimed to divert 9.5 tmc ft — a move he described as alarming. He reminded Naidu of the promises he had made during his tenure as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
He also recalled that Naidu had adopted Mahbubnagar and laid the foundation stones for projects like Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, and Koilsagar. All these projects remained incomplete even after a decade of BRS rule under K. Chandrashekar Rao, he said.
“How can Naidu justify obstructing the very projects that were initiated during his tenure as Chief Minister and whose works began when he was Leader of the Opposition in undivided Andhra Pradesh?” Revanth Reddy questioned.
He urged Naidu to show magnanimity and support the completion of these long-delayed irrigation works. “Let us live. Don’t obstruct our projects,” he appealed.
Revanth Reddy also made major announcements regarding employment, stating that the Congress government would fill one lakh government jobs before completing the first half of its five-year tenure by June 7, 2026.
“We have already filled 60,000 jobs in the past 19 months. Notifications for the remaining 40,000 to 45,000 vacancies will be issued soon,” he said.
Revanth Reddy asserted that he would remain Chief Minister for the next ten years, until 2034.
“I’m saying this clearly to KCR — engrave it in your heart, and in your son’s heart too. I will be the Chief Minister for ten years. If you or your son can’t bear that and resort to extreme steps, I can’t do anything about it,” Revanth Reddy said.
The Chief Minister accused Chandrashekar Rao of neglecting Mahbubnagar (Palamuru) district during his ten-year rule. He said that despite being elected to Parliament as MP by Palamuru in 2009, Rao did nothing in return for the region after he ruled the state for a decade.
Revanth Reddy accused Chandrashekar Rao of being upset over his rise from Palamuru and said that development projects like the Young India Residential School on 25 acres were being established to uplift marginalised children. “Are you upset because Madiga children are studying like your son and grandson?” he asked Chandrashekar Rao rhetorically.
He criticised Rao for failing to complete key irrigation projects like Palamuru-Rangareddy, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, and Bhima. “You spent `1 lakh crore on Kaleshwaram, and it collapsed in three years. We are planning to complete your incomplete projects in the next two years,” Revanth Reddy asserted.
He also highlighted Congress’s achievements — free 24x7 power to farmers, `21,000 crore in crop loan waivers, Rs 9,000 crore disbursed under Rythu Bharosa in just nine days, and support to SHGs and women entrepreneurs.
