KTR Accuses Telangana CM of Stalling Key Irrigation Project, Flags Governance and GHMC Issues

Hyderabad, Dec 2025 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Monday launched a sharp attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, alleging that the Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project has been deliberately stalled to appease his “old boss,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Addressing the media at the Assembly premises, Rama Rao claimed that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy fears that completion of the ambitious irrigation project would bring political credit to former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR). According to KTR, this apprehension, coupled with the desire to remain in the good books of his former political mentor, has resulted in the deliberate slowing down of the project.

KTR said that it is common practice for governments to initiate irrigation projects under the guise of drinking water requirements and then subsequently secure statutory clearances. “This reality is well known, though rarely acknowledged openly,” he remarked, adding that such procedures have been followed across the country over decades.

Drawing a comparison between major irrigation projects, KTR pointed out that the Polavaram project has been under discussion for over 70 years and is yet to be completed. In contrast, he said, the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project was completed during KCR’s tenure because of the former Chief Minister’s determination and political will.

“Kaleshwaram stands as a clear testimony to KCR’s unwavering commitment. Even if investigations continue endlessly, the state will be the one to suffer. Politically, we will not lose. The people of Telangana know exactly who ensured water for the state,” KTR asserted.

Focusing on the Palamuru–Rangareddy project, Rama Rao warned that accepting a water allocation of just 45 TMC would severely harm Telangana’s interests. He recalled that it was a previous Congress government that had agreed to an allocation of 299 TMCs from the Krishna river. Based on this understanding, the BRS government had approached the Centre seeking enhanced allocations. Despite this groundwork, he alleged, the present Congress government has stalled the project without justification.

Turning to urban governance, KTR addressed speculation surrounding the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). He said there were widespread rumours about splitting GHMC into three separate entities and even creating a separate municipal corporation for the so-called “Fourth City.” Any such restructuring, he emphasised, must be done in a scientific, transparent and people-centric manner.

KTR accused the Congress government of pursuing arbitrary delimitation exercises purely for financial gains. He alleged that these moves were being undertaken on the advice of merchant bankers and brokers. “This entire exercise is driven by the intention to raise money. Such reckless actions will not go unanswered,” he warned, adding that the BRS would demand a detailed debate on the issue both inside and outside the Assembly.

Responding to allegations related to phone tapping, KTR said intelligence systems have existed in the country since the era of Jawaharlal Nehru. “These mechanisms are meant to maintain law and order and to safeguard the state. Can anyone honestly claim that surveillance systems do not exist today?” he asked.

He challenged the Chief Minister to categorically state that the phones of opposition leaders are not being tapped. If the allegations were false, KTR questioned why officials were not coming forward with press briefings to clarify the issue. He also noted that the current Director General of Police had served under previous governments and was fully aware of how intelligence systems function.

KTR further accused the Congress government of using Special Investigation Teams (SITs), inquiries and legal cases as diversionary tactics to deflect public attention from governance failures. “What has been achieved through so many investigations? Has even a single allegation been conclusively proven?” he asked, claiming that people were no longer misled by such strategies.

Referring to the recently held sarpanch elections, KTR said the results amounted to a referendum on the Congress government’s performance. He alleged that despite attempts to inflate figures by including sarpanches from other parties, the verdict of the people was clear. “Within just two years of Congress rule, the people have rejected this government,” he said, asserting that the results reflected growing public dissatisfaction across Telangana.

Team Maverick