Supreme Court Exposes Congress Government’s Negligence on Telangana’s Water Rights: Harish Rao
Former Telangana Irrigation Minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao has alleged that the Supreme Court’s refusal to entertain the Telangana government’s petition over the Godavari–Banakacherla Link Project has exposed the Congress government’s “gross negligence” in safeguarding the State’s water rights. Rao accused the Revanth Reddy-led government of mishandling a crucial legal challenge by filing a defective petition, resulting in the apex court declining to hear the matter.
Addressing a press conference in Sangareddy, Harish Rao claimed that the State government had failed to properly prepare and present its case despite the significance of the dispute involving the Polavaram and Banakacherla projects. According to him, the Supreme Court questioned how such a defective petition could be filed in a matter concerning Telangana’s water interests, thereby exposing the government’s lack of seriousness in protecting the State’s share of river waters.
The BRS leader further alleged that while the Andhra Pradesh government was aggressively pursuing the Banakacherla project, the Telangana government had failed to mount an effective legal challenge. He accused the Congress administration of indirectly facilitating Andhra Pradesh’s plans instead of firmly opposing projects that, according to the BRS, could adversely affect Telangana’s entitlement to Godavari waters.
Harish Rao also questioned the transparency of recent interactions between the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on inter-state water issues. He demanded that the State government disclose the details of discussions and decisions concerning river water sharing, alleging that Telangana’s interests were being compromised without adequate public or legislative scrutiny.
The controversy centres on Telangana’s objections to the proposed Godavari–Banakacherla Link Project and issues connected with the Polavaram project. While the BRS maintains that the projects threaten Telangana’s lawful water allocations, the Congress government has previously asserted that it remains committed to protecting the State’s interests through legal and administrative measures. The dispute is part of the broader and continuing inter-state disagreements over the sharing and utilisation of Krishna and Godavari river waters.
The Supreme Court has not adjudicated the merits of Telangana’s claims at this stage. The recent proceedings were confined to procedural defects in the petition, and the observations cited by Harish Rao have become the latest flashpoint in the political battle between the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS over irrigation policy and the protection of Telangana’s water rights.
