Chains Of Slavery: KTR Slams Congress Over Jurala Water Crisis As Farmers Secure Water Release
GADWAL, TELANGANA: The Jurala water crisis shifted on September 23 after the Telangana government released water from the Jurala Project following days of protests by farmers seeking irrigation for standing crops. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, welcomed the development while continuing his criticism of the Congress-led state government.
The latest turn comes after farmers in the Jurala ayacut had protested over the lack of irrigation water. According to Telangana Today, the government eventually released water after the agitation, while KTR said the farmers’ protest had forced the administration to act.
KTR Telangana Attack Focuses On Farmers And Water
The KTR Telangana campaign over the issue intensified on September 21, when Rama Rao accused the government of failing to release available water and warned that the BRS would step up its agitation.
He also criticised the detention and arrests of BRS leaders who had joined the protests. KTR alleged that the government was using police action instead of addressing farmers’ demands, while calling for immediate measures to protect crops in the Palamuru region.
On September 23, after water was released, KTR praised the farmers for continuing their agitation. He described their struggle in terms of breaking the “chains of slavery” and said the BRS would continue raising issues involving Telangana’s basic needs.
Jurala Water Crisis Follows Dispute Over Available Water
The Jurala water crisis has centred on whether water held in the project could be released for irrigation without creating problems for drinking-water supplies.
KTR had claimed that around 9 TMCft of water was available in Jurala and argued that a smaller quantity could meet drinking-water requirements while allowing farmers to protect standing crops. Those figures and the decision on allocation were presented as part of his political argument, rather than as an independent assessment.
The state government’s position, as reported during the dispute, was that silt had reduced the usable storage and that remaining water had to be preserved for drinking needs in the coming months.
BRS Congress Clash Intensifies In Palamuru
The BRS Congress clash has expanded beyond the immediate water release, with both sides presenting different explanations for the situation.
KTR has accused the Congress government of poor water management and argued that water from upstream reservoirs could have been secured through coordination with Karnataka. He also cited Telangana’s reported Krishna water utilisation to question the government’s handling of irrigation resources.
The government, meanwhile, has pointed to storage constraints and drinking-water requirements while moving to seek additional Krishna water from Karnataka.
What Is Confirmed After The Protests
The immediate outcome is clear: water was released from the Jurala Project after farmers’ agitation, and KTR publicly credited the protesting farmers for pushing the government to act.
The KTR Telangana dispute with the Congress administration is therefore continuing, but the immediate demand for water release has produced a government response.
The BRS Congress clash is now likely to remain focused on how much water was available, how it was managed and whether additional supplies can be secured for farmers in the Palamuru region.
At the centre of the dispute, the Jurala water crisis has moved from a demand for immediate release to a broader political argument over irrigation management, water storage and responsibility for protecting standing crops.
