Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president KT Rama Rao has given the Telangana government a September 14 deadline to announce a schedule for releasing water to the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal. Speaking at a Miryalaguda protest rally against the government’s agricultural record, he warned that failure to act will result in a padyatra from Kodad to Haliya with thousands of farmers. He noted the march will retrace the 2003 route walked by former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao during the statehood movement.
Rama Rao stated that sufficient water is available in the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir and from Srisailam inflows to irrigate two crop cycles. He accused local ministers of withholding the water and alleged the Chief Minister is favoring Andhra Pradesh projects. Furthermore, he criticized unfulfilled agricultural promises, including the Rythu Bharosa scheme, assistance for landless labourers, and a paddy bonus.
The BRS plans to raise the canal water issue during the assembly session beginning September 7 and will organize further agitations regarding the government’s agricultural record.