Hyderabad, Jan 7 – Vedire Sriram, the advisor for water resources to Maharashtra’s chief minister, has accused both the former BRS regime and the current Congress government of a “double betrayal” concerning Telangana’s share of Krishna river waters.
In an address at the BJP state office in Hyderabad, Sriram, who previously served as an advisor to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, claimed that both governments had compromised Telangana’s interests in the allocation of Krishna waters.
Sriram criticized the former BRS government for accepting less than its original entitlement under the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal during a meeting of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Streams (MoJS) in 2015, thereby allegedly betraying Telangana’s rights to the Krishna basin’s resources.
He also criticized the current Congress government for failing to provide substantial assurances regarding the allocation of waters from the Krishna basin. Sriram argued that this inaction constitutes a second betrayal, as it continues to limit Telangana’s access to vital water resources.
The Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Kaleshwaram project are among the significant schemes aimed at addressing the state’s water scarcity issues, but their success depends on fair water allocation from interstate rivers such as the Krishna.
Sriram presented a PowerPoint presentation during his press meet, outlining various aspects of the Krishna and Godavari basin projects and highlighting the importance of just interstate water allocations for Telangana’s development. His remarks have sparked debate regarding the equitable distribution of water resources among different states in India.
The controversy over the allocation of Krishna river waters adds another layer to the ongoing political tussle between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties vying for control of Hyderabad and Telangana ahead of crucial state elections later this year.
As the issue continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether either government will take steps to address Sriram’s concerns and ensure a fair distribution of water resources for all concerned states in the Krishna basin.
