Telangana's KTR threatens siege of Kannepalli pump house amid farmer water crisis

Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) warned that his party would lay siege to the Kannepalli Pump House with 50,000‑60,000 people if the Telangana government does not immediately operate the pumps and lift Godavari water for irrigation. He said 26 of the state’s 33 districts are already facing drought‑like conditions and that millions of cusecs of water are flowing wastefully into the sea because the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is not being used.

KTR accused the Congress‑led state administration of apathy toward farmers, citing El Niño, deficient rainfall and repeated expert warnings. He claimed police blocked his convoy en route to the pump house, leading to confrontations. The leader urged the government to restart the “Bahubali” pumps, fill reservoirs, and avoid a severe water crisis that could also affect drinking water supplies in Hyderabad.

If the pumps remain idle, the BRS vowed to march to Kannepalli and enforce a siege to ensure the pumps are switched on.