KCR to launch new mass movement to defend Telangana’s water rights

BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has announced a fierce offensive to safeguard Telangana’s water rights through a fresh people’s movement against the triple betrayal by the Congress government in the State, the BJP-led Centre and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Tearing into the Congress government in Telangana for failing miserably to respond to Chandrababu Naidu’s conspiracies on Krishna and Godavari waters, Chandrashekhar Rao announced a massive people’s movement, as part of which he would address public meetings across Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts, mobilising farmers, civic groups, poets and cultural activists. An action plan will be announced in a couple of days after consultations with all like-minded forces.

Addressing a press conference after a three-hour marathon joint meeting of the BRS Legislature Party and the party State executive committee at Telangana Bhavan on Sunday, Chandrashekhar Rao said silence was no longer an option.

“I remained quiet for two years. But what is happening now threatens the very interests of Telangana and the purpose of achieving Statehood. From today, the fight begins,” he declared, announcing a Statewide movement centred on water injustice, particularly in the drought-prone Palamuru region.

The BRS supremo said the Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) was the central agenda of the meeting, describing it as a lifeline project that has now been sabotaged through political conspiracy.

He reminded the audience that erstwhile Mahabubnagar district was the most neglected region in undivided Andhra Pradesh, despite the Krishna river flowing for over 300 km through it.

“Water flowed through our lands, but our people were forced to migrate in search of livelihoods,” he said.

Coming down heavily on both the Congress and the TDP regimes in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, he said nearly 174 TMCft of Krishna water, earmarked through projects such as Upper Krishna, Bhima and Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal, was systematically denied to Palamuru.

“The second SRC (State Reorganisation Commission) mandated continuation of proposed projects. They were scrapped instead. That injustice pushed Palamuru into chronic drought and poverty,” he said.

Chandrashekhar Rao recalled that the Bachawat Tribunal itself acknowledged Palamuru’s neglect and suo motu sanctioned 17 TMCft for the Jurala project in 1978. Yet, the project languished for decades.

“Jurala was built like an orphan with no canals and no irrigation. Krishna River waters came and went, but did no good for the region,” he said, adding that even Jurala was completed only after the Telangana movement forced the issue.

Recalling Chandrababu Naidu’s hollow promises by adopting Mahabubnagar district while failing to execute projects or even pay



Rs 13 crore as compensation to Karnataka for Jurala submergence, he said that it was only after Naidu was questioned publicly that he rushed to complete the Jurala project.

The BRS government (then TRS), after Telangana’s formation, took up a comprehensive review of river water allocations and pending projects.Political history books

“We brought abandoned projects back on track on a war footing,” he said, listing Nettempadu, Bhima, Kalwakurthy and other schemes that together provided irrigation to about 6.5 lakh acres in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district. Mission Kakatiya, he added, revived minor irrigation tanks, benefiting another 1.5 lakh acres.

Chandrashekhar Rao stressed that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme was not a new idea but a long-delayed entitlement. Designed to draw nearly 173 TMCft from the Krishna basin, the project aimed to permanently end drinking water scarcity and irrigation distress across erstwhile Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts.

“We sanctioned Rs 35,000 crore, spent Rs 27,000 crore and completed nearly 90 per cent of the works. Six out of nine statutory approvals, including environmental clearance, were secured,” he said.

Anticipating disputes with Andhra Pradesh, his government had installed high-capacity 145 MW pumps to swiftly lift water, while also acquiring 27,000 acres of land. However, the BJP-led Centre had returned the project’s detailed project report (DPR) at the behest of Chandrababu Naidu, whose Members of Parliament (MPs) are now critical to the NDA’s survival.

“For power in Delhi, they are ready to sacrifice Telangana’s interests,” he said, questioning the Congress government’s silence when the DPR was sent back.

He took particular exception to the Congress government seeking only 45 TMCft for PRLIS. “Why should Telangana beg for 45 TMCft when we are entitled to at least 90.81 TMCft under existing allocations following losses incurred due to Polavaram project and minor irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh?” he asked, noting that Maharashtra and Karnataka were already utilising their shares.

Chandrashekhar Rao said the Congress was prostrating before the Centre instead of forcefully arguing Telangana’s case before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal. “What is this government for? Real estate deals, land auctions and commissions?” he asked, charging total abdication of responsibility for water rights.

“If a government does not speak for its people, who will safeguard Telangana?” he asked, warning that from now on, Congress and BJP representatives would be confronted everywhere.

“Victories and defeats are temporary. But Telangana’s interests are paramount and a water project belongs to the State forever. We will not compromise on Telangana’s rights,” he declared, announcing the launch of a high-stakes political and public battle over water.