Hans News Service Nalgonda

Formerminister and Suryapet MLA G Jagadish Reddy accused the Congress government of failing to protect Telangana’s water interests and alleged that Andhra Pradesh was diverting Krishna water through Pothireddypadu.

Addressing a press conference in Nalgonda, Jagadish Reddy alleged that the district ministers, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, had remained silent while water was being diverted from Srisailam. He claimed that the diversion was adversely affecting agriculture in the Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut. Jagadish Reddy said the water level in the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir currently at around 532 feet and argued that irrigation water could be released to the left canal and lift irrigation schemes. He claimed around 30 TMC of water was available in the reservoir and questioned why the government was delaying the release. Recalling the previous BRS government, he claimed that irrigation water had been supplied to the Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut on 17 consecutive occasions, even when the reservoir had much lower water levels. He also alleged that water was being diverted through Pothireddypadu to fill projects in Rayalaseema.

The BRS leader claimed that around 148 TMC of water had been diverted through Pothireddypadu and alleged that water which should have reached Nagarjuna Sagar was being diverted elsewhere.

He criticised the government for conducting a yagam instead of taking concrete measures to provide irrigation water to farmers. He demanded immediate water release to the left canal and lift irrigation schemes.

Jagadish Reddy warned that the BRS would launch a major agitation if the government failed to respond. He said the party would discuss the issue with K Chandrashekar Rao and formulate an action plan to fight for the farmers’ irrigation rights.