BJP State president N. Ramchander Rao being detained by police in Jadcherla while proceeding to the Jurala irrigation project site, where farmers are demanding the release of water to save their standing crops, on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: G RAMAKRISHNA
State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Tuesday expressed concern over the acute shortage of irrigation water affecting farmers in the Godavari basin, Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme and the command areas of the Jurala Project, alleging that thousands of cultivators were being pushed into distress.
Speaking to the media after being detained by police at Jadcherla while attempting to visit the Jurala project site, Mr. Rao accused the Congress government of neglecting farmers’ interests. It was ‘unfair’ to withhold irrigation water after farmers had already sown crops and witnessed partial germination, without adequately warning them about the possibility of water scarcity, he said.
The BJP leader criticised the Agriculture and Irrigation Ministers for their ‘silence’ despite the growing anxiety among farmers. Referring to the government’s claim that water was being conserved for drinking purposes, he alleged that reservoirs such as Narayanpur and Almatti were holding substantial water and accused the government of “playing politics” instead of addressing farmers’ needs.
Mr. Rao said discontent was not confined to the Jurala ayacut alone. Farmers cultivating turmeric, cotton, paddy and maize in areas dependent on the Nagarjunasagar and Godavari irrigation systems were also worried about water availability, he claimed.
Alleging that the government was attempting to suppress dissent, he said opposition leaders and farmers raising legitimate concerns were facing arrests and restrictions.
The BJP president also accused the government of failing to fulfil its promise of introducing a crop insurance scheme superior to the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, as envisaged in the Congress party’s Warangal Farmer Declaration.
Mr. Rao further highlighted the grievances of farmers who had lost land for the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Kalwakurthy lift irrigation projects. He demanded enhanced compensation, arguing that the proposed ₹15 lakh per acre was inadequate for lands containing borewells, open wells and fruit-bearing trees.
Published – September 22, 2026 06:53 pm IST
