‘Sept 14 Deadline’: KTR Warns Revanth Reddy Govt Of High-Voltage Padayatra Over Nagarjuna Sagar Water
In a burgeoning political confrontation that threatens to engulf Telangana, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) has issued a stark ultimatum to the ruling Congress-led government. He declared he would spearhead a monumental ‘padayatra’ – a political march – involving thousands of farmers if the state fails to deliver a clear, actionable plan for releasing Nagarjuna Sagar Water into the Left Canal by a stringent deadline of September 14. This crisis is not merely about irrigation; it’s a boiling pot of agrarian distress, unfulfilled promises, and intense political rivalry.
Addressing a fervent Farmers’ Maha Dharna in Miryalaguda, KTR underscored a critical paradox: the gargantuan Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir currently boasts an approximate holding of 180 TMCft of water. Yet, despite this considerable capacity, the Telangana government stands accused of inexplicably withholding crucial releases into the Left Canal. This alleged inaction, KTR passionately articulated, places countless acres of standing crops across the vital Ayacut region—encompassing Nalgonda, Suryapet, and Khammam districts—at a precipitous risk of irreparable damage, potentially devastating livelihoods for an entire farming community.
The Stakes: Nagarjuna Sagar Water and Farmer Survival
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, a colossal infrastructure project, is the lifeline for millions in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. For the farmers dependent on its Left Canal, the delay in water release is not a bureaucratic inconvenience; it is an existential threat. These are individuals who have toiled under the fierce Indian sun, investing their hopes, savings, and often borrowed capital into their fields. With crops like paddy and cotton nearing critical stages, a lack of irrigation now would mean withered plants, ruined harvests, and a cruel plunge into an inescapable cycle of debt. The psychological toll on these agriculturalists, already burdened by volatile markets and unpredictable weather, cannot be overstated.
KTR’s demand is precise and unambiguous: the state government must immediately unveil a comprehensive timetable. This schedule needs to specify the exact dates for water release and detail the total number of irrigation turns allocated to local farmers. Such transparency, he argued, is not just a matter of good governance, but a fundamental right for those whose very existence hinges on water availability.
Echoes of History: A Political Padayatra Reborn
The planned padayatra, stretching from Kodad to Haliya, carries significant historical resonance. KTR deliberately invoked the powerful precedent set by his father, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who undertook a similar arduous march along the same route in 2003. That historic movement was a pivotal moment in the burgeoning agitation for a separate Telangana state, galvanizing public sentiment and demonstrating a deep commitment to the region’s welfare. By reenacting this potent symbol of resistance, KTR aims to tap into a wellspring of public memory and rally a distressed farming community, asserting the BRS’s readiness to champion their cause through robust public agitation.
The BRS leader sharply criticised the Congress administration, particularly focusing on its alleged failure to honour key election guarantees. He lambasted the ruling party for not implementing critical assurances, including the promised Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver, the Rs 15,000 per acre Rythu Bharosa assistance, annual support for landless labourers, and vital crop bonuses for paddy and cotton. These unfulfilled pledges, KTR contended, have left farmers feeling betrayed and vulnerable, exacerbating their current predicament. The pressure on the ruling Congress administration is mounting, not just from the opposition but from the very electorate they vowed to uplift.
Furthermore, KTR confirmed that the BRS intends to aggressively confront the irrigation crisis during the upcoming Telangana Legislative Assembly session. This promises to transform the legislative chambers into a battleground, where the fate of thousands of farmers and the credibility of the state government will be debated fiercely. “If the government does not announce a clear water-release schedule by September 14, I will personally undertake a padayatra from Kodad to Haliya with thousands of farmers," KTR emphatically warned. He reiterated that the BRS would not relent, intensifying protests across the state until their demands for the crucial Nagarjuna Sagar Water are unequivocally met.
This looming confrontation underscores a broader narrative of agricultural dependency and political accountability in India. As the September 14 deadline rapidly approaches, all eyes in Telangana are fixed on the actions of the government and the potential for a massive groundswell of public protest. The future of countless crops, and indeed, the political landscape of the state, hangs precariously in the balance.