Telangana’s water crisis has become the centre of a political dispute after former minister T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of prioritising liquor manufacturing units while households and farmers faced shortages, drought-like conditions and irregular power supply.
Addressing a news conference at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, Harish Rao alleged that the government was allocating water to liquor manufacturing units despite shortages affecting drinking water and irrigation. He said the administration had placed emphasis on ensuring adequate liquor production during Dasara while farmers struggled to protect drying crops.
Harish Rao also questioned reported water-use notices issued to institutions including BDL, BHEL and IIIT Hyderabad. He demanded that the state government explain its overall water-management plan and clarify how water was being allocated among domestic, agricultural and industrial users during the current shortage.
The former minister criticised the filing of non-bailable cases against 14 farmers who allegedly opened gates at Jurala to obtain water for their crops. He called for the cases to be reviewed and questioned why farmers faced legal action while, according to his allegation, water was being made available to beer companies during a period of scarcity.
Harish Rao further alleged that the government had failed to prepare for the effects of El Nino despite receiving warnings over the previous nine months. He said the administration lacked a clear strategy to protect farmers, agricultural labourers and rural livelihoods from worsening drought-like conditions.
The dispute also extends to Telangana’s electricity supply, which directly affects irrigation pumping. Harish Rao claimed that farmers in several areas were receiving only six to seven hours of electricity, leaving pumps unable to operate consistently and contributing to crop damage. He said the power shortage was part of a chain in which inadequate coal affected generation, unreliable electricity disrupted irrigation and water shortages put crops at risk.
He questioned why irrigation projects including Devadula, Kannepalli and Kalwakurthy were not being operated to their full potential despite water being available in the Krishna and Godavari river systems. He also challenged the government’s explanation of the crisis, asking what El Nino had to do with an alleged failure to maintain coal stocks.
Harish Rao said Telangana had not entered into power-purchase agreements in advance and was now struggling to procure electricity even at higher prices. He asked the government to set aside political differences, address the reported water and power shortages and take immediate steps to protect crops and rural livelihoods. The report did not include a response from the Telangana government to the allegations.
