Uttam vows to secure Telangana’s share in KG basin

metro india news I hyderabad

Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday asserted that the Congress government would wage an uncompromising battle to secure the State’s rightful share of Krishna and Godavari river waters.

Speaking during his inspection of the R-9 Lift Irrigation Scheme in Suryapet district, Uttam said the government would firmly protect the interests of Telangana farmers before all competent forums, including water tribunals and the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).

“We will fight effectively to ensure justice to Telangana in the allocation of Krishna and Godavari waters. Whether it is before the tribunals, the KRMB or any other forum, there will be no compromise when it comes to Telangana’s rightful share,” he said.

The Minister dismissed criticism as “false and bogus propaganda”. He said the government was efficiently managing irrigation systems and agricultural power requirements and was committed to putting every available drop of water to productive use.

Uttam launched a sharp attack on the previous BRS government, alleging that huge amounts of public money had been spent during its decade in office without creating proportionate irrigation potential. He cited the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and other pending projects as examples of schemes that remained incomplete despite substantial expenditure.

Referring to the Kaleshwaram project, he alleged that thousands of crores had been spent on irrigation schemes without delivering the corresponding ayacut benefits promised to farmers. He also pointed to expenditure on the SRSP system and other pending projects, claiming that investments had failed to translate into the intended irrigation benefits.

Uttam said the Congress government’s approach would focus on completing pending projects, creating actual ayacut, ensuring efficient utilisation of water and power, and safeguarding Telangana’s river-water entitlements.

“Irrigation projects should ultimately be judged by the water delivered to farmers and the acreage brought under assured irrigation, not merely by the amount spent,” he said.

During the R-9 scheme inspection, the Minister reviewed its utility and stressed efficient functioning of irrigation infrastructure to ensure water reaches farmers without avoidable losses or delays.