Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Telangana Leaders Clash Over Irrigation And Standing Crops
Farmers in parts of Telangana say their crops need more water.
Some farmers near the Jurala project protested for an urgent release of water.
BRS leader T. Harish Rao blamed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s government.
He said Andhra Pradesh was taking Krishna River water while Telangana farmers were struggling.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy rejected that criticism.
He blamed the previous BRS government’s irrigation policies and water scarcity linked to El Niño.
The two sides also argued about several unfinished irrigation projects.
Both sides said farmers are facing serious difficulties, but they disagreed about who is responsible.
BRS leader T. Harish Rao accused the Telangana government of failing to protect crops in Mahbubnagar.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy blamed the BRS government’s policies and El Niño-induced water scarcity.
Farmers under the Jurala project have protested for the urgent release of irrigation water.
Harish Rao said Andhra Pradesh was taking Krishna water while Telangana areas within the basin lacked supplies.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said unfinished irrigation projects had worsened the situation in the former Mahbubnagar district.
- Who
- BRS leader T. Harish Rao, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, and protesting farmers.
- What
- The BRS and Telangana government exchanged accusations over irrigation shortages and protecting standing crops.
- When
- Tuesday.
- Where
- Telangana, particularly areas around the Jurala project and the former unified Mahbubnagar district.
- Why
- Farmers are seeking water for crops amid reported scarcity, while the two sides dispute responsibility for the crisis.
BRS Criticism
Government Response
Responsibility for crop losses
BRS Criticism
T. Harish Rao said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was unable to save crops in his own former Mahbubnagar district and was watching the situation as a spectator.
Government Response
N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the current hardship resulted from El Niño-induced water scarcity and irrigation policies followed by the BRS government for ten years.
Krishna River water access
BRS Criticism
Harish Rao said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was taking Krishna water to Kuppam while Telangana could not secure water for areas within the river basin.
Government Response
The government argued that the BRS’s criticism and protests were attempts to divert attention from its own record and failures.
Unfinished irrigation projects
BRS Criticism
The BRS has demanded water releases for farmers under the Jurala project.
Government Response
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the BRS failed to complete the Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, Koilsagar, and Palamuru–Rangareddy projects, which he said were important for the region.
- Main dispute
- The BRS and Telangana government blamed each other for irrigation shortages affecting standing crops.
- Protest location
- Farmers under the Jurala project protested for the urgent release of water.
- BRS allegation
- T. Harish Rao said the Telangana government had failed to secure water for areas within the Krishna River basin.
- Government response
- N. Uttam Kumar Reddy attributed the situation to El Niño-induced scarcity and BRS irrigation policies.
- Projects cited
- Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, Koilsagar, and the Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme were mentioned.
- Potential irrigation capacity
- Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Palamuru–Rangareddy scheme could have taken 70 TMC of Krishna floodwater to irrigate nearly 10 lakh acres.
- Regions mentioned
- The proposed irrigation coverage included Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts.