BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) has urged the Telangana government to immediately operate the Kannepalli Pump House and lift Godavari waters to prevent a potential drought in the state. After inspecting the pump house on Sunday, KTR claimed that 26 of Telangana’s 33 districts were already facing drought-like conditions and alleged that large quantities of Godavari water were being allowed to flow into the sea instead of being utilised for irrigation and drinking water needs.
KTR blamed the Congress government for failing to prepare for the impact of El Niño and below-normal rainfall despite repeated weather warnings. He alleged that the government was deliberately delaying the operation of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project due to concerns over the financial burden of supporting larger agricultural output. Rejecting allegations of corruption related to the project, he said the Kaleshwaram infrastructure remained capable of supplying water if the necessary repairs were completed and the pumps were restarted.
The BRS leader also criticized the police for repeatedly stopping the party’s convoy during its visit to Kannepalli and said the journey from Hyderabad took nearly seven hours due to restrictions. Warning that Hyderabad could also face drinking water shortages if immediate action was not taken, KTR announced that the BRS would intensify its protest and stage a massive siege of the Kannepalli Pump House with thousands of supporters if the government failed to begin lifting Godavari water for the benefit of farmers.
