BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, claimed that the activation of the pump house at Narlapur under the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project is a direct result of sustained pressure mounted by BRS cadres and farmers on the Congress government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Posting in Telugu on X, KTR called the water release a 'victory achieved together with farmers' and saluted BRS workers for their relentless agitation.

Context

The post, written in Telugu, translates as: 'This is a victory achieved by BRS together with farmers. It is because of BRS struggles that this jalagarjana [roar of waters] has arrived at the crucial Narlapur in the Palamuru-Rangareddy project. Because the pink soldiers increased pressure from all sides tirelessly on behalf of farmers, CM Revanth was left with no choice but to relent.' KTR went on to salute all BRS workers who, he said, stood firm 'like Vikramarkas who would not let go until the Chief Minister and the Congress government bowed their heads.'

He also invoked the vision of BRS founder K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), stating that KCR's 'sublime resolve to make drought-hit southern Telangana lush green has not wavered even today,' adding that the sight of Krishna river waters now flowing into the Narlapur reservoir stands as 'proud testimony to the foresight of the then BRS government.'

Policy Backdrop

The Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme was formally accelerated under the BRS government after 2015, designed to lift Krishna waters to the chronically drought-prone districts of southern Telangana, including the erstwhile Mahabubnagar (Palamuru) region. The project spans multiple pump houses, of which Narlapur is among the most critical, intended to push water uphill in stages before releasing it into a network of reservoirs and canals.

KTR also referenced the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, the flagship KCR-era initiative inaugurated in phases between 2019 and 2022 to lift Godavari waters for irrigation and drinking supply. He alleged that the Congress government had 'abandoned' both Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Rangareddy for the 'past two-and-a-half years,' causing grave injustice to farmers, and demanded that CM Revanth Reddy apologise publicly.

Stakeholders and Impact

Southern Telangana's agriculture is heavily rain-fed and has historically suffered from recurring drought. Farmers in the Palamuru region have long awaited functional water supply from the lift irrigation network, making any operational milestone politically and economically significant. BRS has positioned itself as the custodian of this project, while the Congress administration has faced opposition allegations of deliberate neglect.

KTR specifically demanded that CM Revanth Reddy now activate the Kannapalli motors as well — just as the Narlapur pump house was switched on — framing it as an act of 'atonement' (papa prakshalanam). The demand signals that BRS intends to keep irrigation activism as a live political pressure point heading into the next electoral cycle. The post concluded with the slogans: Jai Kisan, Jai KCR, Jai Telangana — 'Long live farmers, long live KCR, long live Telangana.'

What's Next

Attention will now shift to whether the Revanth Reddy government responds to KTR's demand for activating the Kannapalli pump station, the next critical link in the Palamuru-Rangareddy chain. Any further operational milestones at the project — or a counter-narrative from the Congress side on who deserves credit — are likely to intensify the political contest over irrigation in southern Telangana. With farmer groups watching closely, the government's next move on the project could carry significant electoral weight in the drought-prone Palamuru belt.