Hyderabad: Former irrigation minister T Harish Rao demanded chief minister A Revanth Reddy to disclose the decisions made during the meeting of three CMs of Telangana, AP and Karnataka along with union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil after inauguration of Tungabhadra dam spillway gates inauguration few days ago. He said the decisions of the meeting should be discussed in the assembly as the issue concerns the future water security of the state and all political parties must be consulted before any commitments are made.Harish Rao also questioned whether the Telangana CM had obtained any assurance on Telangana’s pending Godavari projects clearances, the proposed river interlinking, or protection of Telangana’s rightful allocations under the Krishna tribunal.Addressing a press conference in Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, the ex-minister accused the Congress govt of compromising Telangana’s legitimate rights over Krishna and Godavari waters for political interests while projecting the recent three-state meeting at Tungabhadra as a historic achievement.The BRS leader said the CM’s lack of understanding of river water issues has become a serious threat to Telangana’s future. He alleged that while the BRS govt fought relentlessly and secured approvals for major irrigation projects, the present Congress govt is surrendering Telangana’s interests before the Centre and neighbouring states.Harish Rao questioned the celebrations over the replacement of gates at the Tungabhadra Dam, stating that Telangana’s real concern was securing its rightful share of river waters, not symbolic events.He said that Karnataka is moving ahead with the proposed 35 TMC Naveli Reservoir upstream of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS), while AP is planning the 20 TMC Gundrevula Project downstream of RDS. “Together, these projects would enable the two states to impound nearly 55 TMC of water, severely affecting inflows into Srisailam reservoir and jeopardising irrigation projects dependent on it, including the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation project,” Harish Rao said.He asked the CM whehter he secured any concrete assurance regarding Telangana’s rightful 15.90 TMC allocation under the RDS, permanent closure of unauthorised AP outlets on RDS, or repairs to the RDS canal system and dam.Harish Rao alleged that Karnataka has already taken up construction of three unauthorised barrages on the Tungabhadra river without statutory approvals. “Why the Telangana govt neither objected to the project before the Centre nor approached the Krishna River Management Board despite construction progressing substantially,” he asked.The BRS deputy leader said the BRS would never remain silent if Telangana’s water rights are compromised. “We fought for Telangana, and we will continue to fight to protect every drop of water belonging to the state. Neither political compulsions nor secret understandings can be allowed to sacrifice Telangana’s future,” Harish Rao asserted.ends/
