Reddy offered to debate the issue in the Legislative Assembly, inviting Chandrashekar Rao — popularly known as KCR — and experts to discuss decisions made during both administrations.
Published Jul 10, 2025 | 9:14 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 10, 2025 | 9:14 AM
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
Synopsis: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy challenged former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao to a debate on the management of Krishna and Godavari river waters. He accused KCR of failing to complete any major irrigation project initiated during the united Andhra Pradesh era, despite Telangana’s formation offering a chance to rectify past injustices.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, on Wednesday, 9 July, challenged former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao to a debate on the management of Krishna and Godavari river waters, accusing the erstwhile BRS government of mismanagement and betraying the state’s interests.
He made these remarks during a PowerPoint presentation at Praja Bhavan, focusing on alleged lapses by Chandrashekar Rao’s administration in securing water rights for the state.
Reddy offered to debate the issue in the Legislative Assembly, inviting Chandrashekar Rao — popularly known as KCR — and experts to discuss decisions made during both administrations.
“I assure you, as the leader of the House, there will be no chaos, and no one’s dignity will be compromised,” he said, urging KCR to participate. He even proposed a mock Assembly at KCR’s Erravalli farmhouse if health concerns prevented his attendance, stating, “Name a date, and I’ll send a team of ministers, or I will come myself.”
Reddy also dismissed former minister KT Rama Rao’s (KTR) recent remarks as “frustrated outbursts” following electoral losses and stressed that his government would not stoop to personal attacks.
“We keep away from clubs and pubs; we aim to present facts to the people,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to safeguarding Telangana’s rights. “Even if God stands in our way, we will fight for Telangana’s water rights.”
Taking a swipe at KTR, he said he was ready to go to the farmhouse but not to a club or a pub. “I am not used to visiting clubs and pubs,” he remarked, apparently referring to KTR’s invitation for a debate on farm sector distress at the Press Club last Monday.
The chief minister’s offer to visit KCR’s farmhouse is seen as an attempt to counter KTR’s criticism that he (Reddy) had avoided a debate at the Press Club and “fled” to Delhi. KTR staged a high-voltage drama at the Hyderabad Press Club, reserving a chair for Reddy and “waiting” for him for about half an hour, knowing full well that Reddy was out of town.
On Wednesday, during a presentation to people’s representatives on water resource management over the last 11 years at Praja Bhavan, Reddy came down on KCR for failing to complete irrigation projects for over a decade, which were left unfinished when the Congress demitted office in 2014 (before the bifurcation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh).
He claimed that it led to significant losses for Telangana’s farmers and the power sector.
He accused the BRS government of reducing water allocations, particularly in the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, where the planned 2 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water was slashed to 1 TMC. Reddy further alleged that KCR’s policies allowed Andhra Pradesh to divert Krishna and Godavari waters, depriving Telangana of its rightful share.
“KCR has no authority to write a death warrant for Telangana farmers dependent on Krishna waters,” Reddy said, stressing that action to secure Krishna waters upon entering Telangana at Jurala could have prevented Andhra Pradesh from diverting Krishna waters to Rayalaseema.
He also pointed out the scrapping of four lakh acres of ayacut (irrigated land) in Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts under the Pranahita-Chevella project as a decision that went against the interests of Telangana farmers.
Reddy contrasted the Congress government’s efficiency in the united Andhra Pradesh, stating that it provided water to 54 lakh acres at ₹93,000 per acre, while the BRS government irrigated only 15 lakh acres at a staggering ₹11 lakh per acre.
He accused KCR of failing to complete any major irrigation project initiated during the united Andhra Pradesh era, despite Telangana’s formation offering a chance to rectify past injustices.
The chief minister also addressed objections raised by BRS leader T Harish Rao regarding discussions at Praja Bhavan.
He clarified, “This is not a fort; it’s Praja Bhavan, open to all,” in an oblique dig at KCR, who used the premises as his official residence, which was previously out of bounds for the public.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
