Revanth Reddy Government Fails to Tackle Drought, Harish Rao Launches Sharp Criticism

Former Telangana minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao has accused the Revanth Reddy-led government of failing to address the drought-like conditions affecting the state. Speaking at a media conference in Gajwel, he said the situation was not an unexpected natural calamity. According to Harish Rao, scientists and agriculture department officials had warned the government about the possibility of drought due to El Niño nearly ten months earlier, but adequate preventive measures were not taken. He claimed that crops across nearly 12 lakh acres were drying up, leaving farmers facing severe losses. Cotton growers, in particular, were struggling, with yields in some areas reportedly falling to just two or three quintals per acre.

Harish Rao also said people in several districts were facing shortages of drinking and irrigation water. He pointed out that some other states had declared drought-affected areas, announced financial assistance for farmers and released funds to make alternative drinking-water arrangements. He criticised the Telangana government for not declaring drought-affected mandals or announcing immediate relief for farmers. He also alleged that the government had failed to manage electricity purchase agreements. Harish Rao called for urgent measures to support farmers and address shortages of drinking water, irrigation water and electricity.