Water Panel Says Meeting With Two CMs Fruitful

New Delhi: Chief ministers of AP and Telangana met in Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Jal Shakti minister CR Patil to discuss sharing of Krishna and Godavari river waters.

AP water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said decisions were taken at the meeting on three main points.

Chief ministers Chandrababu Naidu and Revanth Reddy, water resources ministers of the two states, CWC officials, engineers, as well as irrigation officials of AP and TS discussed matters in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

Ramanaidu explained, “Both states agreed on the decision to install telemeters regarding the outflow from reservoirs to canals in both states. Second, both states would jointly protect the Srisailam project, which is a Telugu national treasure.

Both states expressed their consensus and agreed to take prompt action following the CWC recommendations and expert suggestions regarding the repairs of this project and the protection of the plunge pool.”

Another decision was that the Krishna river management board would be based in Amaravati and the Godavari board in Hyderabad.

There was a positive response on the report given by the AP government on another important component, the Polavaram Banakacharla project, and on the objections raised by the Telangana government.

Since many technical aspects are linked to the Polavaram Banakacharla project, Nimmala clarified that both states have decided to form a committee to oversee matters. This panel would include technical experts and administrative officers from both states. It would work under the auspices of the CWC.

The AP minister said that the committee will be set up by next Monday. He said the committee would also inquire into the claimed wastage of 3000tmc water discharged into the sea every year from the Godavari river and give its view.

Ramanaidu described the Delhi meeting as an auspicious development in a friendly atmosphere.