Irrigation expert R Vidyasagar Rao died at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Saturday, after a prolonged spell of illness.
The 77-year-old was also an Advisor to the Telangana government, and a close associate of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Appointed soon after the bifurcation of the state, he was the chief advisor for all irrigation projects taken up by the state.
Reports add that Vidyasagar Rao played a key role during the Telangana movement, by highlighting the injustices done to the region, where sharing of water was concerned.
Vidyasagar Rao was born on November 14, 1939, and was a student of Osmania University, where he pursued his Bachelors degree. He went on to obtain a Masters degree in Water Resource Development from the University of Roorkee, and a Diploma from the Colorado State University.
Rao was also associated with the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the United Nations for a long time.
His death comes just a week after he was admitted to the hospital and put on ventilator, for cancer.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had also visited Vidyasagar at the hospital.
Several leaders paid their last respects to Vidyasagar on Saturday night.
This included Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, TRS MP Kavitha Rao, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly K Jana Reddy, BJP Floor Leader G Kishan Reddy and Special Chief Secretary for Irrigation SK Joshi
The last rites will be performed on Sunday.
“Vidyasagar Rao gave valuable advice to the TRS party and to myself, and thus remained a guiding force for the State. His vast experience in the field of irrigation has immensely helped the State after its formation, through re-designing of the irrigation projects. After Professor K Jayashankar, Vidyasagar Rao was the greatest personality that Telangana had, and Telangana will never forget him,” KCR said in his condolence statement.
“Sri Vidyasagar Rao was not only a good friend to me, but also an elder brother and a member of my family,” he added.