R Vidyasagar Rao

Early years

He is a native of Jajireddygudem of Nalgonda District. He had his Bachelor of Engineering degree from Osmania University of Hyderabad, India in 1960 and his master's degree Engineering in Water Resources Development University of Roorkee in 1979. Also done his Diploma in Water Resources Systems Engineering, Colorado State University (USA), in 1983. Also Bachelor of Law Delhi University, 1990.

Career as irrigation expert in central government, UN, World Bank

He worked in the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Govt of India in various capacities and retired as Chief Engineer. Worked as a Consultant to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) at Nairobi (Kenya) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) during November–December, 1991. Served as Member of Working Group of Major, Medium Irrigation & Command Area Development Project for XII Five Year Plan of Planning Commission, Government of India. Also served: As Resources Person, National Commission for integrated Water Resources Development Plan, Government of India, responsible for preparation of working group report on legal, institutional and financial aspects. As Consultant to NABARD responsible for appraisal and monitoring of Irrigation schemes of Government of AP posed for financial assistance to NABARD. As Arbitrator for settling disputes arising out of World Bank assisted Canal Project, Govt of U.P. Visited several countries all over the globe under UN related organisations' programmes. He is Life Member of Indian Water Resources, Life Member of Indian Network on Participatory Irrigation Management and Individual Member of Indian Council of Arbitration.

Telangana Activist

Rao helped the public understand water issues by speaking to them in Telugu. He contributed more than 100 articles Vaartha, Andhra Jyothi, Eenadu and Namaste Telangana on water-related issues and put out two volumes of Neellu-Nijalu, an anthology of published essays. As a water resources expert, he spread awareness on water issues among students, intellectuals and the general public through seminars and media, Rao addresses media on deliberations and the Telangana government's views regarding water issues. He has written about technical and environmental issues, e.g. on the Polavaram project.

Worked in the agitation for Separate Telangana State along with Prof.Jayashankar, idealogue of Telangana Movement and K.Chandrasekhar Rao, Head of Telangana Rashtra Samiti, presently Chief Minister of Telangana State. R Vidyasagar Rao has laid strong basis for the movement by disseminating injustices done to Telangana Region in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh in the field of irrigation. He has given lectures and written essays in a simple language, along with the statistics from authentic documents, so that common man can also understand. His writings on water issues and suffeings of Telangana are published in various news papers National English and Vernacular News Papers.

Advisor to Telangana government

Rao has been the main think tank for Telangana State Irrigation Matters. At National Seminar on Minor Irrigation Projects 'Mission Kakatiya' organised by Kakatiya University, Telangana State, in November,2016, Rao was chief guest and addressed the participants and expalained about Government policies on Irrigation Projects.

Awards

In 2014, Institute of Engineers (India) has awarded Leading Engineering Personalities of India for his contributions to the Engineering field.