KT Rama Rao Accuses BJP-Led Central Govt Of Discrimination Against State's Irrigation Projects

KTR said Palamuru Rangareddy project objective is to provide water for over 12.5 lakh acres of land and meet the drinking water requirements of many villages, Hyderabad City, and industries.

Telangana's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President, KT Rama Rao, has accused the BJP-led Central government of discriminatory practices against the state's irrigation projects. In an open letter addressing the Environment Assessment Committee's (EAC) deferral of environmental clearance for the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), Rama Rao expressed deep disappointment with what he perceives as intense discrimination by the Central government against Telangana.

"I write this open letter with utter disappointment regarding the discriminatory actions of the BJP-led Central government against Telangana state. I want to highlight the Centre’s unjust treatment of the state’s irrigation projects, particularly the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS). It is essential to draw attention to this issue and demand that it be addressed promptly," KTR wrote.

Rama Rao emphasized the significance of the Palamuru Rangareddy project for addressing water scarcity in drought-prone areas of Telangana, including Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts.

The project aims to provide water for over 12.5 lakh acres of land and meet the drinking water needs of villages, Hyderabad City, and industries, serving as a transformative solution to the water scarcity challenges.

Pointing out the struggles faced by Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts due to inadequate irrigation facilities, Rama Rao highlighted the efforts undertaken by the Telangana government to combat water scarcity and promote agricultural development, with the PRLIS being a significant initiative in this regard.

Accusing the BJP-led Central government of neglecting Telangana's irrigation projects, Rama Rao claimed that they have failed to provide necessary support or funds. He alleged that the Centre creates obstacles in granting permissions and national status to Telangana's projects, while projects in other states receive funding, permissions, and recognition. Rama Rao questioned the fairness of such disparate treatment, citing the example of the Union government granting national status to the Upper Bhadra irrigation project in Karnataka but not extending the same recognition to the PRLIS.

Rama Rao also criticized the Central government for the lack of a decision from the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II regarding water sharing between the four states. He highlighted Telangana's demand for its rightful share of 500 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Krishna River, which has not been referred to the tribunal by the Central government, despite nine years having passed. Rama Rao underscored the requirement of permission from the Central government to utilize Telangana's own water from irrigation projects, despite the water being a state subject.