Telangana's Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme Faces Discrimination, Minister Condemns Centre's Inaction

Telangana's Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) has run into significant difficulties getting central government environmental clearance despite its ambitious goals of irrigating over 12.5 million acres of land and meeting the water demands of nearby villages, the city of Hyderabad, and numerous industries. BRS Working President and Minister KT Rama Rao has spoken out strongly against this delay, calling out the BJP-led Centre for what he sees as extreme discrimination against Telangana.

Rama Rao wrote that the PRLIS was a beacon of hope for drought-stricken areas like Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda and that he was deeply disappointed by the Centre's discriminatory actions. Due to a lack of investment in irrigation infrastructure, these areas have suffered for quite some time from water scarcity, fluoride problems, and the outward migration of the local population. The PRLIS was seen as a transformative project that could alleviate these challenges and improve people's lives.

Rama Rao said the Central Government had neglected Telangana's irrigation projects by not funding and supporting them. He noted that while projects in other states received money, permits, and even national status, Telangana projects were blocked and denied. Rama Rao claimed that the Centre's treatment of the PRLIS was unfair because it had national status while other irrigation projects, like Karnataka's Upper Bhadra project, had not.

Rama Rao also mentioned that the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II had not yet decided how the four riparian states would divide the water. He said the Centre was not doing enough to fix the problem and that Telangana should be able to use water from irrigation projects without asking the Centre for permission.

Despite the Centre's lack of support, Rama Rao believes Telangana will continue outperforming other states. He urged Telangana residents to protest the Central Government's mistreatment to avoid further setbacks.

Finally, Telangana has difficulty getting environmental clearance for the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme exemplifies the state's difficulties in securing adequate water supplies. Minister KT Rama Rao has responded strongly to allegations of discrimination and neglect from the Centre to safeguard Telangana's progress and ensure the necessary support for the state's irrigation projects.