Harish Rao Targets CM Revanth Over Telangana’s Share in Krishna, Godavari Waters

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) senior leader and former minister T. Harish Rao on Monday accused the Telangana government of failing to safeguard the state’s interests in the ongoing disputes over Krishna and Godavari river waters , alleging that the Congress administration had remained largely silent despite developments that could affect Telangana’s share.

Speaking to reporters at the BRS Legislature Party (BRSLP) office in the Assembly premises, Harish Rao alleged that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had compromised Telangana’s water rights while Andhra Pradesh was aggressively pursuing its irrigation agenda. He claimed that the state government had not responded strongly to decisions and discussions taking place at the inter-state level.

The BRS leader referred to a meeting held in New Delhi on January 30 , where senior irrigation officials from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh reportedly discussed issues related to the Godavari river and the Banakacharla project . According to him, the minutes of that meeting reached the Telangana government on February 12 , yet the state administration had not reacted even after several weeks.

Harish Rao questioned the government’s delay in responding to what he described as attempts by Andhra Pradesh to move forward with its plans on Godavari waters. He said the lack of a clear response from the Telangana government had raised doubts about its seriousness in protecting the state’s interests.

The former minister also criticised the government for not countering statements made in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly , where the Governor’s address reportedly referred to the completion of projects such as Polavaram and Nallamala Sagar . Harish Rao said Telangana should have strongly articulated its position on these projects.

He pointed out that the Telangana Governor’s address did not include any strong assertion about protecting the state’s share of river waters or resisting projects that could affect its interests. According to him, the government should have clearly stated that Telangana would not give up even a drop of water that rightfully belongs to the state.

Highlighting the previous BRS government’s efforts , Harish Rao said the former administration had secured rights to 400 TMC of Godavari water through seven irrigation projects . However, he alleged that the current Congress government was failing to even defend the rights already obtained and was indirectly enabling Andhra Pradesh to advance its water projects.

Apart from the water dispute, Harish Rao also demanded that the Telangana Assembly’s budget session be extended to allow detailed discussions on key issues. He announced that BRS legislators would introduce a private member’s bill in the Assembly to question the implementation of the Congress government’s six guarantees .

The BRS leader urged the state government to move beyond what he described as routine correspondence and take decisive steps to protect Telangana’s share of river waters.