ANANTAPUR: The Rayalaseema regional level meeting of the Telugu Desam demanded that the Centre and the state government complete construction of ongoing irrigation projects and allocate separate quota of water to the region to meet its drinking water and irrigation requirements.
The meeting, organised at the Kamma Bhavan here on Saturday, laid down 19 demands, among which it asked the state government to get at least 512 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) for AP of the 811 tmc ft available in the Krishna basin.
“Though the Handri Neeva and Galeru Nagari projects were included in the 11th Schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act, they are now listed under non-approved projects. We are objecting the Central Water Commission report which would adversely impact the region,” said TD politburo member Kalava Srinivasulu.
Former minister Amaranath Reddy observed that no major irrigation works had been taken up in Chittoor district during past two years. “The second phase of the Handri Neeva project is incomplete, and so is the work on the Kuppam branch canal,” he said.
Another former minister, Paritala Sunitha, said Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was Anantapur district incharge minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and was aware of the drought conditions there. Chandrashekar Rao should help benefit the backward region, she demanded.
Former MLC Gundumala Thippeswamy said the capacity of reservoirs should be increased according to needs of the tail-end areas like Madakasira branch canal. He demanded that the government modernise the Tungabhadra High Level Main Canal to get more water during the peak season.
