Almatti Height Increase Would Harm Telangana: BJP

Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao today accused the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government of compromising Telangana's interests in the proposed increase in the height of the Almatti dam.

Addressing a press conference at the party State office, Rao said that the Karnataka government was planning to raise the dam's height from 519 to 524 metres, a move that would be highly detrimental to farmers in Telangana

He criticised the Telangana Chief Minister for frequently visiting Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi but "failing" to raise this crucial issue despite both States being ruled by the Congress.

Rao also alleged that, despite a Supreme Court stay prohibiting any construction or height increase of the dam, the Karnataka government was proceeding with land acquisition around the site to expand the dam's storage capacity. He said that any increase in height would severely impact farmers across southern Telangana, particularly in Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts, potentially turning these areas into a desert.

He said that Mahabubnagar was the Chief Minister's native district, and yet he remained silent on this critical matter.

"The BJP will however strongly oppose any attempt to raise the Almatti dam height," Rao vowed.

Rao also accused the Congress government of prioritising "contracts and commissions" over protecting the State's interests. "The Revanth Reddy government has become a government of contractors, by contractors and for commissions," he alleged.

The BJP State head also took a swipe at the BRS, and said that the previous KCR-led government had already harmed Telangana by agreeing to a meagre 299 TMC share of the Krishna waters. "The BRS has no moral right to speak on this issue, and the present Congress government is treading the same path," he added.

Rao urged the Telangana government to immediately initiate talks with the Karnataka government to ensure that the interests of Telangana's farmers were protected.