Hyderabad: Former minister T Harish Rao alleged that the Telangana govt has failed to protect the state’s water interests ahead of the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) meeting scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on August 18. He said that the agenda proposed by AP contains several issues that directly threaten Telangana’s irrigation projects and long-term water security. He questioned why the state govt had not publicly responded despite having sufficient time since the agenda was circulated.Addressing a new conference at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, he claimed that while both Telangana and AP had to prepare separate agendas for the meeting, the Telangana govt’s continued silence raised serious concerns about its commitment to safeguarding the state’s interests.The BRS deputy leader alleged that AP has sought a review of the approvals granted to seven important Telangana irrigation projects, including Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, Choutuppal Hanumantha Rao Project, Chinna Kaleshwaram, Chanaka-Korata, Modikunta Vagu, Kadem Gudem Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Scheme. He also claimed that AP had proposed reconsideration of the clearances granted to the Sammakka barrage.Harish Rao stated that these projects had already secured statutory approvals after detailed scrutiny by the competent authorities and questioned how proposals seeking their review has been included in the GRMB agenda. He argued that Telangana had secured approvals for projects designed to utilise 383 TMC of Godavari waters and said that the present Congress govt had not obtained approval for a single new irrigation project since assuming office.He further alleged that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) relating to projects such as Sammakka, Palamuru and Wardha had been returned during the present govt’s tenure, and claimed that the Congress govt failed to secure approvals for any additional water allocation.The BRS leader questioned whether the state govt was prepared to allow approvals secured during the previous BRS administration to be diluted or withdrawn. He said Telangana’s irrigation future could not be compromised and described the inclusion of such proposals in the GRMB agenda as unacceptable.Referring to AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu’s public statements earlier that he had never opposed Telangana projects, Harish Rao alleged that official communications submitted by AP conveyed a different position. He claimed that AP had written to the Centre seeking intervention regarding Telangana projects and had now incorporated similar proposals in the GRMB agenda.He also questioned whether the GRMB possessed the authority to recommend the review or cancellation of approvals that had already been granted after examination by various Central govt agencies. He said approvals issued through the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) after due scrutiny could not be casually reopened and claimed there was no precedent in the country for cancelling such approvals after they had been granted.Harish Rao demanded that CM Revanth Reddy immediately clarify the Telangana govt’s position on the issues proposed for discussion at the GRMB meeting. He also called upon central ministers from Telangana and BJP leaders to publicly state their stand on the issue and protect Telangana’s water interests. He asserted that BRS would launch a statewide movement if Telangana’s water rights are compromised.Former Ministers L. Ramana, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Satyavathi Rathod and Tatikonda Rajaiah, MLC Ravinder Rao, MLA Chinta Prabhakar, former MLA Shashidhar Reddy, and former Corporation Chairman Errolla Srinivas were present.
