The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has issued a scathing attack on the Congress government of Telangana, accusing it of mismanaging irrigation schemes and leaving Telangana’s water resources unexploited. BRS Working President and former minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) attacked the ruling party for allegedly diverting water to Andhra Pradesh while Telangana farmers were struggling with severe drought.
KTR mentioned that during the BRS rule, farmers were provided with enough water for two crop seasons, and there was agricultural prosperity. But according to him, under Congress leadership, the situation has come down to a significant level of decline, caused by bad governance and no proper planning. The government has been accused of driving Telangana’s farm community into crisis by not providing support like irrigation facilities, continuous electricity, and on-time agricultural subsidies.
While comparing the two governments, KTR mentioned that the government of ex-Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) had launched farmer-friendly schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, which provided financial security, besides round-the-clock power supply and timely availability of seeds and fertilizers. Compared to this, he charged Congress, after assuming power 15 months ago, with having placed farmers in distress without any meaningful help.
Hoping for better agriculture, KTR blamed Congress rule for frequent power outages and poor irrigation, making agriculture more unsustainable. He highlighted that during the BRS regime, schemes such as Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha made reservoirs full even in the scorching summer season. But he accused that during Congress rule, these water bodies are drying up due to negligence and mismanagement.
In a clear jibe at the Congress party, KTR asked, “Why is Congress giving more importance to Andhra Pradesh needs when Telangana farmers are in distress? How can they explain such glaring negligence?”
With increasing alarm at water shortages and farm distress, the Telangana politics of irrigation policies is turning hot, as the BRS is pressing hard against the Congress government for its perceived failures.