Hyderabad: Former minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao alleged that the Andhra Pradesh govt was conspiring to divert 200 TMC from Godavari waters through the proposed Banakacherla Godavari link project. He accused the Congress govt of remaining silent on the issue despite there being a major threat to the interests of Telangana. He demanded that the Banakacherla project be halted immediately to prevent irreversible damage.Harish Rao, who gave a PPT on the Banakacherla-Godavari scheme at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, explained how the neighbouring state was swiftly taking up the project. The Centre, under the guise of interlinking rivers, is enabling Andhra Pradesh to divert water even without the completion of Polavaram. “Despite all this, the Telangana govt has shown no urgency, no resistance,” Harish said.He said after the injustice faced in Krishna river waters, there is another threat in the form of the Banakacherla project. “While the AP govt is pushing ahead with tenders for this project, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy have chosen to remain silent,” he alleged.He criticised the Congress govt for focusing more on political vendetta than public welfare. “They are busy filing false cases against KTR and BRS leaders. Sadly, the state’s interests are being mortgaged for the sake of political power,” he said.Harish Rao said Telangana has eight BJP MPs, eight Congress MPs, and two Union ministers, yet no one is raising their voice. “Is their loyalty to Delhi more important than their responsibility towards Telangana?” he asked. Drawing a contrast, he recalled how Chandrababu Naidu once fought Maharashtra over just 2 TMC from the Babli project. “Now, with 200 TMC on the line, shouldn’t the Telangana govt be fighting even harder?” He alleged that Revanth Reddy is compromising state interests to protect his friendship with Chandrababu Naidu.“If the state govt is serious, BRS is ready to support a resolution in the Assembly. But if you fail to act, we will launch a people’s movement and pursue legal action,” the former minister said.On Uttam Kumar Reddy’s letter, Harish said, “Today, I gave a presentation on the Banakacherla project. On the same day, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy released a letter with yesterday’s date. I thank him for responding at least after our presentation,” said Harish Rao. He said writing letters is not enough. “If the minister is serious, he should ask the chief minister to demand an apex council meeting on Banakacherla. That is what the people of Telangana are expecting.” He said Telangana needs action, not publicity. “Backdated letters won’t protect our water. Only a strong stand will.”
