Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao on Wednesday said his Telangana counterpart T. Harish Rao invited him for talks for smoothing out the growing wrinkles between the two States over the construction of two lift irrigation projects by Telangana.
The Minister, who expressed concern over the ‘illegal’ construction of irrigation projects in Maharashtra and Karnataka, said they would affect the interests of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Speaking to media here on the sidelines of the CM’s tour, he said, “Mr. Harish Rao spoke to me and invited me for talks. We are ready to discuss the issue in the presence of Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti.”
The Minister said around 35 lakh acres of land would lose irrigation water facility if Maharastra and Karnataka failed to follow the orders of the Union government and courts in utilisation of Krishna waters. Mr. Umamaheswara Rao exuded confidence that the State would resolve the disputes with Telangana.
KCR warns Naidu, Jagan
Hyderabad Special Correspondent adds:
Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao warned his A.P. counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu and Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy against stoking the passions of people of the two States by opposing new irrigation projects proposed by his State.
The Telangana government would go all out to keep up its promise to irrigate one crore acres in the State. Mr. Rao asked the leaders of A.P. not to resort to cheap politics by opposing the projects.
Surplus Godavari waters
Addressing a meeting on the occasion of Khammam MP of YSRC P.Srinivas Reddy and a MLA of the same party Payam Venkateswarlu joining the TRS here, Mr. Rao said the resolution by the A.P. Cabinet opposing the projects and Mr. Jagan’s decision to go on fast for the same reason were no deterrent to Telangana to go ahead with its proposals. The threats would be countered effectively.
Mr. Rao criticised Mr. Naidu for lacking the acumen and courage to utilise surplus water available in the Godavari for irrigating lands in AP.
He recalled that he had suggested in the Assembly how both States could tap the river water for mutual benefit. The point was also made when he met Mr. Naidu in Vijayawada to extend invitation for a yaga, Mr. Rao said.
However, Mr. Naidu and Mr. Jagan were not interested in resolving people’s issues.
