On the eve of my father’s 29th death anniversary, I feel compelled to share a few thoughts on the values that shaped him—and continue to guide me. My father, the late Dr. Channa Reddy, lived a life defined by integrity, fearlessness and an unwavering commitment to public welfare. I have always tried to follow that legacy, placing people and nation above all else—just as he did.
The Trust established in his memory in 1996 was born from that spirit. For nearly three decades, it has worked quietly but consistently on matters of public importance, helping generate awareness and build opinion to strengthen political and administrative resolve. Any success we achieve is, for me, a humble tribute to the extraordinary visionary who inspired this mission. I remain deeply proud to be my father’s son.
Our latest effort is centred on an issue that could transform India’s water future: Watershed Development Projects based on the Four Waters Concept, developed by the late engineer T. Hanumantha Rao. Few outside the expert community truly grasp the power of this innovation, though it has already shown remarkable success when implemented with discipline and precision.
The concept is simple but revolutionary. When applied effectively—as it was in Telangana in 2001 (at roughly ₹5,000 per acre) and in Rajasthan from 2014 to 2018 (at about ₹8,000 per acre)—the results were astounding:
- Water available for three crops a year,
- Groundwater levels rising close to the surface,
- Drought-proofing even in severe dry years, and
- No dependence on massive dams, costly lift irrigation schemes or inter-basin transfers.
The contrast with conventional mega-projects is stark. A few examples illustrate the point clearly:
- Kaleshwaram Lift Project (Telangana)
Cost: Over ₹1 lakh crore; Irrigation: ~36 lakh acres for one crop.
Using Hanumantha Rao’s model: ₹5,400 crore, water for three crops annually. - Proposed Kodangal Lift Scheme
Cost: ~₹7,000 crore for 1 lakh acres (one crop).
Using this technology: ~₹150 crore, with three crops assured.
Nationally too, the comparison is no less striking.
Recurring droughts have repeatedly pushed India towards large-scale river-linking proposals—from K.L. Rao’s 1972 National Water Grid idea to the National River Linking Project (NRLP) launched in 2002 with 30 proposed links.
The first among them, the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project, is expected to cost ₹44,605 crore to irrigate 26 lakh acres (one crop).
Using the Four Waters methodology: ₹3,900 crore for three crops.
The pattern repeats across states:
- Polavaram–Banakacherla Lift Scheme (AP)
Projected cost: ₹81,900 crore for 30 lakh acres (one crop).
Four Waters cost: ₹4,500 crore for three crops. - Wainganga–Nalganga Interlinking (Maharashtra)
Projected cost: ₹87,000 crore for 10 lakh acres (one crop).
Four Waters cost: ₹1,500 crore, three crops guaranteed.
Taken together, the NRLP’s 30 links are estimated—very conservatively—to cost around ₹15 lakh crore, without factoring in environmental damage, social displacement, or inevitable time overruns. The scheme may eventually irrigate roughly 4.5 crore acres, but only for one crop a year.
In contrast, implementing the Four Waters Concept nationwide would cost around ₹67,000 crore—a fraction of the national outlay—while providing three crops annually and building lasting water security.
Adopting this model would not only be a pragmatic solution—it would be a fitting tribute to the extraordinary genius of T. Hanumantha Rao, whose clarity of thought and simplicity of design echo Einstein’s timeless words: “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.”
India is marching towards Vikasit Bharat. Water security will be the foundation of that journey. The Four Waters Concept is the only low-cost, scalable and sustainable path forward. The Trust will spare no effort in championing this cause until it receives the attention and implementation it truly deserves.
