A delegation of elected representatives and members of Rayalaseema Development and Rights Forum urged President Pranab Mukherjee to recommend certain packages for the region after bifurcation.
The delegation comprising Minister C. Ramachandraiah, MLA K. E. Krishnamurthy, MLC S. V. Satish Reddy, former MLA V. Sivaramakrishna Rao and forum members – Ch. Chandrasekhara Reddy, S. Ramanaiah, Y. Nagi Reddy, Bojja Dasharatharami Reddy and K. Venugopal Reddy listed out the problems the region would face in the event of bifurcation. As against 40 elected representatives, who had given their consent to accompany the delegation, only three turned up.
Mr. Ramachandraiah explained how the Brajesh Mishra tribunal award on Krishna water had dealt a blow to the interests of Rayalaseema. Urging the President to use his good offices to get the tribunal award quashed and a new tribunal constituted, the delegation said this alone would protect the interests of drought affected four districts in the region.
They wanted the President to direct the Ministry of Water Resources to intervene and reallocate assured water to Rayalaseema projects and provide drinking water to the people.
They sought 140 tmcft of water for Galeru Nagari, Handri Neeva and Veligonda projects by readjusting the existing allocation of Krishna water.
They urged that Dummugudem-Nagarjunasagar tail pond project should be taken up as a national project so as to divert 165 tmcft water from Godavari to Krishna. They said water resources of Godavari and Krishna rivers should be reviewed and redistributed and apportion 300 tmcft for eradication of famine in Rayalaseema.
