BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) led a convoy of party leaders to Kaleshwaram in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district on Sunday amid heightened tension after police allegedly attempted to stop the convoy at several locations. The delegation was heading to the Kannepalli Pump House, a key component of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, when police cited permission issues for the large convoy. After a brief argument, the convoy was allowed to continue its journey.
At Kaleshwaram village, tensions escalated as police again tried to prevent the BRS leaders from proceeding toward the pump house. Party leaders removed barricades and continued their visit, claiming the Congress government was failing to utilise Godavari River water effectively. The BRS said the visit was intended to highlight that large quantities of river water were flowing into the sea instead of being lifted for irrigation.
Speaking to the media, KTR alleged that nearly one lakh cusecs of Godavari water was being wasted while reservoirs under the Kaleshwaram project remained empty, leaving farmers unable to begin cultivation. He said the BRS would continue its campaign until the government utilised the available water for irrigation, adding that the Kaleshwaram project was designed to transform Telangana into a fertile agricultural state by efficiently lifting Godavari water.
