Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Thursday advised the Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana Chief Ministers to amicably sort out the controversy over sharing of Krishna water and power.
Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad after exchanging Diwali greetings at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan, Mr. Narasimhan said there was problem between the two States on sharing of Krishna water and the power generation. “I feel that the Chief Ministers and the Irrigation Ministers of the two States should sort out the differences instead of speaking to the media,” he said.
He also expressed his willingness to intervene and settle the issue. “If they seek any help, I will definitely extend the same. I am always available to them,” he said adding that he had spoken to the Telangana Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao and asked him to sort out the issue.
A.P. and Telangana are locked in a bitter controversy over power generation at Srisailam project by the latter. A.P. had complained to the Krishna River Management Board alleging that Telangana was violating the laid down procedures and overdrawing water for power generation.
Telangana had maintained that it was very much in its limit to utilise the Krishna water at Srisailam project for power generation to meet the demand in the new State. Mr. Narasimhan said the two States should solve the contentious issues in the interest of the public. “Public interest is paramount,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Narasimhan and his wife Vimala Narasimhan extended warm greetings to the visitors at Raj Bhavan. A.P. Legislative Council chairman A. Chakrapani, A.P. chief secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, Telangana chief secretary Rajiv Sharma, Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma and Hyderabad police chief M. Mahender Reddy greeted the Governor and his wife.