Telangana’s irrigation and crop-loss dispute intensified after former minister T Harish Rao alleged that the state government failed to use available water resources effectively and neglected relief for farmers whose crops were damaged across about 25 lakh acres.
Speaking after inspecting drought-hit paddy fields in Chilpichedu and Hatnoora mandals of Narsapur constituency on Friday, Rao accused the government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of failing to operate lift irrigation schemes properly. He said farmers had reported withered crops because of power interruptions and inadequate irrigation, despite what he described as sufficient rainfall and water availability in major rivers.
Rao alleged that the state government had acknowledged crop damage linked to the El Nino impact but did not discuss relief measures during Thursday’s cabinet meeting. He questioned the allocation of public resources to initiatives including the Global Summit, Musi rejuvenation, Future City and other infrastructure projects while farmers faced losses. His remarks were made in the presence of Narsapur MLA Sunitha Lakshma Reddy and Sangareddy MLA Chinta Prabhakar.
The former minister claimed that lift irrigation projects, including Devadula and Kalwakurthy, were operating below their potential. According to his allegation, Telangana had an opportunity to lift 60 tmcft of water from the Devadula project but lifted only 18 tmcft, with the remaining water released to Andhra Pradesh. Rao called for a white paper setting out how lift irrigation pumps were operated and how water was used during the season.
The dispute places the focus on the administrative mechanics behind irrigation delivery. Lift schemes depend on the operation of pumping infrastructure, reliable electricity and reservoir management. A shortfall in any of these systems can affect agricultural production even when water is available in rivers or reservoirs. The report, however, does not include an independent assessment of the government’s water-use records or a response from the Telangana government to Rao’s allegations.
Rao demanded immediate assistance of ₹5,000 per acre, citing similar measures announced in neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka. He also alleged that the crop insurance scheme had not been implemented despite budgetary allocations and claimed that the Rythu Bima scheme introduced by the previous BRS government had been discontinued.
He further alleged delays in opening paddy procurement centres, saying farmers were being forced to sell through middlemen. Rao also raised concerns about pending farm-loan waivers and claimed that banks were adjusting pension benefits, housing assistance and crop-sale proceeds against unpaid agricultural loans. These claims were made at the news conference and were not accompanied in the report by official documentation or a response from the banks or state authorities.
Rao separately criticised the handling of the Singur project, alleging that 20 tmcft of water had been released in the name of repairs and that reduced reservoir storage had created irrigation and drinking-water concerns in four districts. He demanded protection of the remaining reserves and prioritisation of drinking water for affected regions. His call for a white paper and the government’s position on relief and irrigation operations remain the next key developments.
