Harish Rao blames state government for crop losses

Metro India News | Hyderabad : Former Telangana minister and BRS leader T. Harish Rao has accused the Congress government of negligence in irrigation management, alleging that thousands of farmers in the Palamuru region are suffering crop losses despite sufficient water being available in nearby reservoirs. On Monday, Harish Rao, accompanied by former minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, inspected dried-up crops in Burra Vagu and Alwal villages in Peddamandadi mandal of Wanaparthy constituency.

He interacted with affected farmers and later addressed a public meeting, criticising the government's failure to operate the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (KLI) scheme motors on time. Harish Rao claimed that 24–25 lakh acres of crops had been damaged across Telangana. He alleged that although Srisailam received 221 TMC of water and Jurala 252 TMC, the government failed to utilise the available resources effectively. The KLI scheme, which has the capacity to lift 50 TMC, reportedly utilised only 18 TMC, he said.

Recalling the BRS government's tenure under former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Harish Rao said irrigation projects, particularly KLI, had expanded cultivation and enabled farmers to grow two crops annually. He demanded immediate financial assistance for farmers who had lost their investments, release of pending Rythu Bandhu funds for the Yasangi season and additional employment days under the rural employment guarantee scheme for agricultural labourers.

He also urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to invite a Central government team to assess crop damage and secure compensation funds. Harish Rao said the BRS would raise farmers' concerns in the Assembly and continue fighting for their interests. Niranjan Reddy said approximately 250 acres of crops had dried up in Peddamandadi mandal, expressing concern over the deterioration of irrigation conditions in a region once known for paddy cultivation.