BRS leader blames Telangana drought and power shortages on government decisions

Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader T. Harish Rao has blamed Telangana’s drought conditions and power shortages on the Congress government’s alleged failure to use available water and prepare for higher energy demand. Speaking at Kagaz Maddur in Medak district, Mr Harish Rao said the drought was more the result of government decisions than the El Nino weather phenomenon.

He alleged that the government had not lifted sufficient Godavari water from the Medigadda barrage for farming and drinking needs. He said the India Meteorological Department had warned about the possible effects of El Nino more than six months earlier, but claimed the government had not stored enough water for two crop seasons. The source material did not include a response from the Congress government to the allegations.

Mr Harish Rao also criticised the State’s power planning. He said insufficient coal stocks had affected generation at thermal plants and claimed that farmers were receiving electricity for fewer than six continuous hours. He referred specifically to the 800-megawatt Singareni thermal plant, saying the Congress government had decided to sell its power despite Telangana’s rising consumption.

He demanded that an agreement to sell power to Rajasthan be cancelled. He also attributed reduced generation at the Bhadradri and Yadadri thermal plants to coal shortages. He alleged that inadequate electricity supplies were being used to avoid responsibility for procuring paddy and other crops at support prices.

Several Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and activists joined the BRS at the meeting, which was chaired by Narsapur MLA V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy. Mr Harish Rao also criticised the condition of village roads and said Congress leaders were reluctant to meet residents.

These claims were made at the political meeting and were not independently verified in the source.