ANANTAPUR: Rayalaseema Water Forum expressing concern over the inadequate supply of water that has hampered the entire Rayalaseema region for decades together, on Saturday maintained that the only way out was to ensure that pending and ongoing irrigation projects of the region should get amended in the KRMB notification.
"Handrineeva, Galleru Nagari, Telugu Ganga and Velugonda projects should be amended as approved projects in the notification", the Forum demanded.
At a round-table conference it organised with irrigation experts, intellectuals, writers and political parties over the ongoing water dispute with Telangana and its impact on backward region of Rayalaseema, which was chaired by Locharla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy and Appireddy Harinath Reddy, Rayalaseema Saguneeti Sadhana Samithi president Bojja Dadaratharami Reddy said that political leaders, intellectuals and other sections of the region should come together and raise their voice against injustice in the wake of notification on Krishna River waters.
"We all should get ready for an agitation to mount pressure for amendments in the KRMB notification for our future well-being," Reddy said.
They resolved to seek net allocation of water for the pending projects in Rayalaseema through the Brijesh Committee and demanded immediate completion of projects in the drought-hit areas mentioned in the Bifurcation Act.
Muccumarri, Gururaghavendra and Siddapuram lift, and those completed prior to the bifurcation should be included in the list of approved projects, the forum demanded. It sought priority for Tungabhadra High Level Parallel Canal, Vedavati, Gundrevula and Siddeshwaram Alugu projects considering the needs in the rain-deficit region.
Of the 512 TMCs allocated for Andhra Pradesh projects, additional allocations should be made for backward area projects through internal adjustments, they said and added that the Krishna River Board should set up a centre in Kurnool.
A special Irrigation Commission was required for conserving conventional irrigation resources, the Forum resolved.
YSRC leader K.V. Ramana, Congress leader Rama Naidu, BJP district president Sandinti Srinivasulu, TD spokesperson Manjunath, Lok Satta leader Veluri Ashok Kumar and Janasena leader Dhanunjaya, Rayalaseema Jalasadhana Samithi leader Rama Kumar were present.
