Archive · 10 Aug 2026
'Varuna Yagam' Cannot Substitute Governance, Says BRS Leader Jeevan Reddy
Jeevan Reddy is a leader of a political group called BRS in the Indian state of Telangana.
He spoke to reporters in a town called Jagtial.
He said the state government is doing rain prayers but is not taking care of water properly.
He believes prayers alone cannot fix the drought.
He said the government should repair canals and build pumps to carry water to farms.
He also said the government did not keep its promise to help farmers with crop insurance.
He said the leader of the neighboring state Andhra Pradesh is blocking water projects for Telangana.
He thinks the Telangana chief minister is staying silent and not protecting the state's water.
He wants the government to act fast so farmers get water.
BRS State General Secretary and former minister T. Jeevan Reddy said rituals like 'Varuna Yagam' cannot substitute proactive water management in tackling drought.
He questioned why the state government failed to act despite six months of El Nino warnings.
He proposed Rs 100 crore for seepage works at Annaram and Sundilla and Rs 100 crore for a copper dam at Kannepalli pump house to enable reverse pumping up to Sriramsagar.
He alleged AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu raised objections at the Godavari River Management Board against Telangana's projects including Kaleshwaram, Chinna Kaleshwaram and Sitarama LIFT Irrigation, and accused CM Revanth Reddy of silence.
He criticized the government for failing to implement Fasal Bima Yojana despite promising to pay the 25% farmer premium share, contrasting it with KCR's Rythu Bandhu initiative.
- Who
- BRS State General Secretary and former minister T. Jeevan Reddy, addressing a press conference alongside former ZP Chairperson Dawa Vasantha Suresh and other BRS leaders.
- What
- A scathing attack on the Congress government accusing it of failing on drought management, water rights and farmer welfare, saying 'Varuna Yagam' rituals cannot substitute governance.
- When
- Not explicitly dated in the article; it follows recent rains that filled Srisailam to Full Tank Level and six months of El Nino warnings.
- Where
- BRS party headquarters in Jagtial, Telangana.
- Why
- To criticize the state government's handling of drought and water resources and to allege that Telangana's water rights are being compromised.
- Speaker
- T. Jeevan Reddy, BRS State General Secretary and former minister
- Party
- Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)
- Location
- Jagtial, Telangana
- Main criticism
- 'Varuna Yagam' rituals cannot substitute proactive water governance in tackling drought
- Proposed funding
- Rs 100 crore for Annaram and Sundilla seepage works; Rs 100 crore for Kannepalli copper dam
- Projects said to be blocked
- Kaleshwaram, Chinna Kaleshwaram and Sitarama LIFT Irrigation at the Godavari River Management Board
- Drought warning cited
- Six months of El Nino warnings
- Promises cited
- Congress promised to construct Tummidihatti at 152 meters and to pay the 25% farmer premium under Fasal Bima Yojana