Revanth’s Words Fuel YCP Attack, TDP Blames Past Lapses

The Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project returned to the political spotlight after Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made remarks about the project in the Assembly recently. His comments were quickly picked up by the YSRCP, which used them to target the ruling TDP led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, accusing it of failing Rayalaseema.

However, the Andhra Pradesh government says these attacks are politically driven and that the facts behind the project tell a very different story.

According to AP government and irrigation department officials, the Rayalaseema Lift project was taken up during the previous YSRCP regime without securing mandatory statutory and environmental clearances. Officials point out that as early as 2020, several central agencies and regulatory authorities had clearly instructed that no work should be carried out without prior approvals.

Despite these warnings, the project was announced and initiated, which later led to legal complications. The government states that stop work orders were issued by bodies such as the National Green Tribunal and river management authorities well before the current coalition government came to power. Officials also clarify that project activity had already slowed down and eventually stopped during the YSRCP tenure itself due to lack of permissions.

The coalition government argues that instead of strongly defending the project in court at that time, the previous administration failed to file effective responses, weakening Rayalaseema’s case legally. Now, the present government says it is actively pursuing legal remedies by filing counters and placing factual arguments before the NGT in an effort to revive the project through proper legal channels.

At the same time, the NDA government has highlighted its renewed focus on Rayalaseema’s irrigation needs. Officials claim that irrigation spending in the region had sharply declined over the previous five years, while the current government has increased allocations and restarted several stalled works. Projects such as the Handri Neeva canal expansion, reservoir strengthening, micro irrigation schemes, and drip subsidies are being prioritised to directly support farmers.

The government also says its long term vision is to turn Rayalaseema into a strong horticulture and irrigation driven region by improving water storage, ensuring efficient distribution, and executing projects in a sustainable and legally sound manner.

The AP government maintains that the Rayalaseema Lift controversy is not new but stems from administrative lapses in the past, and accuses the YSRCP of using recent political comments to deflect responsibility. The NDA government claims it is now working to correct those mistakes while rebuilding confidence among Rayalaseema’s farmers.