Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has refuted Telangana government assertion that water released from Telangana was being used for irrigation purposes.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Minister said the Telangana government was politicising sensitive issue such as drinking water. The farmers in Krishna delta region have not taken up any agricultural activities. Their (Telangana) allegations were baseless, he asserted.
The water should be released from Nagarjunasagar dam for Krishna Delta drinking water needs. Following the poor monsoon this year, the Krishna Delta needs water on a priority basis, he said.
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The latest order of Krishna River Management Board’s (KRMB) was nothing new and was only a continuation of the decision taken in March to release 10 tmcft of water to Krishna Delta. The officials from both the sides had agreed to it. Now, they were making issue out of nothing, he said, adding, “the Telangana State is advised to follow the federal spirit and not to rake up regional passions.”
“We are also equally worried about the drinking water needs of the capital and other districts in Telangana,” he said, adding, Telangana government should understand that release of water would be helpful to Nalgonda and Khammam districts in their State.
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On State capital, Mr. Rao said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urged the Sivaramakrishnan Committee to speed up their process. The committee is likely to submit its report by July end, he said.
The Minister, who announced a 100-day programme on irrigation sector, said the government would release a white paper on irrigation department soon. The Chief Minister was laying more emphasis on water conservation.
A senior IAS officer was appointed to chalk out action plan for the water conservation mission. Mr. Naidu would tour Andhra Pradesh in mid July, he added.