*Chandrababu’s silence on Karnataka, Telangana projects is pushing Rayalaseema toward water crisis*

Tadepalli, Feb 25: YSRCP PAC Member and former Minister Sake Sailajanath strongly criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for maintaining silence over irrigation projects in Karnataka and Telangana that could severely impact Rayalaseema’s water security. Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, he alleged that the coalition government’s negligence is deepening the region’s water distress and demanded an immediate discussion in the Assembly on Krishna river water management and pending irrigation works.

Sailajanath warned that the proposed increase in storage capacity at the Almatti dam in Karnataka, from earlier levels to a planned height of 524.24 meters with an additional 100 TMC storage, could drastically delay downstream flood flows in the Krishna river. He stated that even with 120 TMC storage at Almatti, floodwaters that should reach in June and July are now delayed until August, and any further increase could push inflows to September or October, endangering irrigation prospects in Anantapur and Kurnool districts. He expressed concern that upper basin projects, including those linked to the Upper Tungabhadra and other schemes cleared by the Central Water Commission in 2018, may reduce water availability to nearly 5.62 lakh acres and affect a total ayacut of over 10 lakh acres across Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts.

Referring to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s recent remarks claiming that both states discussed and halted the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, Sailajanath demanded that Chandrababu clarify his stand. He cautioned that without completing the Rayalaseema Lift Project and alternative systems such as the Banakacharla Lift, the region could face severe drought conditions. He emphasized that drawing water through Pothireddypadu requires reservoir levels of 841 feet and that, given aggressive upstream utilization by neighboring states, Andhra Pradesh must urgently secure its water rights.

He called upon the Chief Minister, as a son of Rayalaseema, to rise above politics, declare a clear policy on Krishna water management, complete the Rayalaseema Lift and related projects, and formulate alternative supply mechanisms in the Assembly to safeguard the future of farmers and drinking water needs in the drought-prone region.