Overview The article reports on the ongoing political contention in Telangana regarding river water usage. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has strongly refuted allegations made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in the Assembly concerning the BRS's handling of river water resources. This dispute highlights the complex history of water allocation and management in the region, particularly in the context of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Key Developments BRS Rebuttal Former Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao presented a detailed rebuttal, including a PowerPoint presentation, at the BRS office. He argued that the BRS government had attempted to rectify historical injustices inflicted upon Telangana by previous Congress and TDP governments in combined Andhra Pradesh from 1956 to 2014 . Historical Context Congress's Alleged Injustice: According to T. Harish Rao , the Congress party was responsible for transforming Palamuru into a district marked by migration by allegedly denying it 194 tmc ft of Krishna water, which had been agreed upon during the state's merger. Nagarajunasagar Project: The Congress is also accused of significantly disadvantaging the districts of Nalgonda and Khammam by altering the location of the Nagarajunasagar project from Yeleshwaram to Nandikonda, thereby reducing water availability in Telangana areas. AP Reorganisation Act and Project Inclusion Mr. Harish Rao contested Mr. Revanth Reddy's claim that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and Dindi LIS were included in Schedule XI of the AP Reorganisation Act, which would have allowed their continuation without opposition from Andhra Pradesh. He clarified that only the Kalwakurthy and Nettempadu projects were actually listed in Schedule XI. Irrigation Statistics Pre-1956: Telangana had 16.03 lakh acres under irrigation. 1956-2004: An additional 36 lakh acres were added. 2004-2014: Another 5.71 lakh acres were added, with 0.93 lakh acres stabilized. BRS Government (2014-2023): The BRS government added 48.74 lakh acres , including 31.5 lakh acres of stabilization and 17.24 lakh acres of new ayacut. Dispute Over 299 TMC ft Arrangement Mr. Harish Rao accused the Chief Minister of misrepresenting the 299 tmc ft arrangement discussed in the Apex Council meetings of 2016 and 2020 . He stated that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao had strongly opposed this share in the 2020 meeting, demanding a 50% share until the finalization of the Tribunal Award. He questioned why the Congress government was continuing with the same arrangement. KCR's Stance in Apex Council Meetings Jurisdiction of Projects: Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao opposed the jurisdiction of projects until water shares were finalized. Telemetry: He advocated for telemetry at all water drawal points from joint projects. Jogulamba Barrage: He warned of constructing a barrage (Jogulamba) at Alampur to tap and divert Krishna water to Telangana if Andhra Pradesh proceeded with the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. Efforts for Reapportionment Mr. Harish Rao emphasized that the BRS government's efforts led to the agreement on Section 3 reference and the Centre's decision to give additional terms of reference to KWDT-II for reapportionment of Krishna water between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus, particularly under GS2 (Polity and Governance) and GS3 (Economy and Agriculture) . It highlights inter-state water disputes, the role of government policies in water resource management, and the impact of irrigation projects on agricultural development. Understanding the historical context and the political dimensions of water disputes is crucial for Mains examination. Important Facts The dispute revolves around the allocation of Krishna River water between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key figures involved include Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and former Minister T. Harish Rao . The AP Reorganisation Act plays a central role in the legal and political dimensions of the dispute. The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-II) is responsible for adjudicating the water allocation. Irrigation projects like Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and Dindi LIS are at the heart of the controversy.