MUMBAI: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and TS CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao signed a treaty on Tuesday for the sharing of Godavari waters.
The decision was taken at the Maharashtra government’s official Sahyadri guesthouse on Tuesday during the first meeting of an inter-state board for joint irrigation projects between Maharashtra and TS.
Mr Fadnavis allayed the fear that people in the bordering Gadchiroli district have of it being flooded. “We have now developed a proper mechanism to control flooding. I would like to assure the people that their villages would not be flooded,” he said.
The height of Tummidihatti has been reduced to 148 metres from 152 metres. About 113 hectares of land in Gadchiroli will go under water due to this barrage.
The height of Medigadda would be 100 metres, bringing under 150 hectares of land under water, while 1,214 hectares of land would be submerged under water due to the Chanakha-Korta barrage. But no village or house would go under water anywhere, Mr Fadnavis said.
Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, on his part, termed the treaty as historic while speaking to the media. “Problems can be resolved if properly coordinated. Today, is a historic day for both states. Water from Godavari and Pranahita would be used by both the states. Earlier, Congress governments at the Centre and both states (Maharashtra and undivided Andhra Pradesh) could not resolve the issues. But we have succeeded. The projects will take about two years to reach fruition. Both states will be benefited,” Mr Rao said.
He also clarified that TS has no dispute with Maharashtra in the Krishna valley, but does with AP. “We will resolve problems together with Maharashtra. The Maharashtra CM is like my brother and is very pragmatic. My blessings are with him,” Mr Rao said.
