Archive · 21 Sep 2026
BRS Protest Over Jurala Water Release Sparks Political Clash
Farmers near the Jurala project want more water for their crops.
The BRS party organized a protest to support them.
Police stopped the protesters from reaching the project and detained some people.
Some BRS leaders were also placed under house arrest.
Farmers said the water should be released to save crops such as paddy.
Officials said the project has limited usable water and must reserve some for drinking.
They also pointed to low inflows and El Nino conditions.
BRS leader K. T. Rama Rao blamed the Congress government.
Minister Jupally Krishna Rao blamed the earlier BRS government for not creating more storage.
The state government said it was discussing possible water releases from Karnataka reservoirs.
BRS leaders and farmers were stopped from marching to Telangana’s Jurala project for a water-release protest.
Police detained several protesters, including former MLA Chittam Rammohan Reddy, and placed some BRS leaders under house arrest.
Farmers want irrigation water to protect standing crops, especially paddy, while officials cited low inflows, El Nino and drinking-water needs.
BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao accused the Congress government of failing farmers and suppressing protests.
Minister Jupally Krishna Rao blamed the previous BRS government for not building additional reservoirs and said talks were underway with Karnataka.
- Who
- Farmers, BRS leaders and workers, Telangana police, Jurala officials, and state ministers were involved.
- What
- A BRS-backed protest demanding irrigation-water releases was stopped, leading to detentions and a political dispute over water management.
- When
- The main confrontation occurred on Monday, September 21; tensions had increased after an incident on September 19.
- Where
- Near the Jurala project in Telangana’s Jogulamba Gadwal district, including roads around the project and the Atmakur-Gadwal highway.
- Why
- Farmers sought water for standing crops, while officials cited limited inflows, drinking-water requirements, El Nino and the need for senior clearances.
BRS and Farmers
Congress Government and Officials
Irrigation-water release
BRS and Farmers
Farmers and BRS leaders say water should be released immediately from Jurala to save standing crops.
Congress Government and Officials
Officials say available water must be managed carefully because of low inflows, drinking-water needs and limited storage.
Responsibility for the shortage
BRS and Farmers
K. T. Rama Rao blamed the Congress government for withholding water and suppressing farmers’ protests.
Congress Government and Officials
Minister Jupally Krishna Rao blamed the previous BRS government for failing to build reservoirs for additional storage.
Handling of the protest
BRS and Farmers
BRS leaders condemned the detentions and house arrests, saying the government should focus on saving crops.
Congress Government and Officials
Police used barricades, checks, detentions and preventive custody to stop protesters from reaching the project.
Water availability
BRS and Farmers
Rama Rao claimed that nine TMC of water was available and that two TMC would meet drinking-water needs.
Congress Government and Officials
Project-related figures cited elsewhere reported 5.1 TMC ft of live water, while the minister said some storage was unavailable or reserved for drinking needs.
- Project
- Jurala project in Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana
- Farmers’ demand
- Immediate release of irrigation water to protect standing crops, particularly paddy
- Reported live storage
- One report stated 5.1 TMC ft against a gross capacity of 8.81 TMC ft; BRS leader K. T. Rama Rao separately claimed nine TMC was available
- Water-use concerns
- Officials said some water was needed for drinking supplies and cited low inflows of less than 300 cusecs
- Police action
- Protesters were blocked, detained or placed under preventive custody and house arrest
- Earlier incident
- Some farmers released water from the head regulator into the Left Canal on September 19; officials later closed the regulator
- Alternative water discussions
- The Telangana government said it was discussing releases from Karnataka’s Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs
