Water is a basic necessity. Yet in Telangana, even drinking water has become a political battleground. As concerns grow over El Niño and its possible impact on water availability, the Congress and BRS are trading accusations over Hyderabad’s drinking water supply and the condition of major irrigation projects.
Congress MLA Danam Nagender has accused the BRS of politicising a difficult situation by visiting the Medigadda barrage. He argued that water security requires practical solutions rather than political grandstanding. He said that the Congress government, is working on a plan to strengthen Hyderabad’s drinking water supply.
Daman also questioned the benefits Hyderabad received from the Kaleshwaram project. He pointed out that the Medigadda barrage had suffered structural damage despite the massive expenditure on the project under the previous BRS government. He further claimed that not even one TMC of water had reached Hyderabad from Medigadda for drinking water needs.
The Congress leader said earlier governments had worked to bring water to Hyderabad from the Godavari and Yellampalli sources. He added that the present government was taking steps to supply another five TMC of water to the city by January 2027. These commitments will ultimately be judged by their results rather than political statements.
The controversy comes at a time when water management could become a serious challenge if weather conditions worsen. For a city as large as Hyderabad, securing reliable drinking water supplies requires long-term planning, dependable infrastructure and transparent communication. Political parties can question each other’s decisions, but the public needs clear answers on water availability and the government’s preparedness.
The dispute also comes amid preparations for the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. Nagender has urged people to attend the event called by Rahul Gandhi to protest alleged voter deletions. He accused the BJP of benefiting from the removal of voters’ names in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
With the Khairatabad by-election also approaching, the political stakes in Telangana are rising. The Congress is preparing to defend its position while the BRS is seeking to challenge the government on key public issues.
