HYDERABAD — In a strong statement, Telangana’s Minister for Irrigation, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, has accused the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government of severely undermining the state’s interests concerning Krishna River water resources.
During a press briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, Minister Reddy alleged that the BRS administration had agreed to an insufficient allocation of merely 299 tmc ft of Krishna waters for Telangana, while a substantial 512 tmc ft was conceded to the remaining Andhra Pradesh. He condemned this decade-long arrangement as a ‘betrayal’ of Telangana’s farmers and its drought-prone regions.
“We are not bound by such an unfair agreement, and we have reopened this critical issue,” Minister Reddy declared. “Our current claim for 763 tmc ft of water stands in stark opposition to the meager 299 tmc ft previously accepted.”
The Minister stressed the urgent need for political solidarity in this fight for water rights. He affirmed that Telangana would remain steadfast in safeguarding its rightful share, regardless of the political landscape in neighboring states. “Whether Karnataka is governed by the Congress, Andhra Pradesh by the TDP, or Maharashtra by the BJP, Telangana will fiercely advocate for its fair allocation of water, without any compromise,” he asserted.
Furthermore, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy voiced strong opposition to Karnataka’s plans to increase the height of the Almatti Dam, emphasizing that such a move would directly harm Telangana’s water interests. He confirmed that the State government is preparing a robust argument for the Supreme Court to challenge this proposal and prevent its implementation. “Our government’s position is unequivocal: we will not permit any action that diminishes Telangana’s water share. We are committed to approaching the Supreme Court to ensure that Karnataka is not allowed to proceed with raising the Almatti Dam’s height,” the Minister concluded.