Revanth: TG, AP Close to Deal on Krishna, Godavari Water Sharing
Explaining the government’s approach, he said Telangana had initiated discussions with the Andhra Pradesh government to resolve pending disputes over the sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters
Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday said that the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments were close to reaching an agreement on the sharing of Krishna and Godavari river waters, with discussions between the two states having reached an advanced stage.
He expressed confidence that a formal agreement would be finalised very soon and reiterated that Telangana would not surrender its rights over “even a single drop” of water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
Addressing a press conference in Nagarkurnool after concluding his two-day tour of the undivided Mahbubnagar district to review the progress of barrages and lift irrigation schemes, the Chief Minister said his government preferred negotiations over confrontation in resolving inter-state water disputes. However, he made it clear that if negotiations failed, there would be no alternative but to confront those opposing Telangana’s interests. Revanth Reddy asserted that he was prepared to fight anyone to safeguard the state’s rightful share of river waters.
Explaining the government’s approach, he said Telangana had initiated discussions with the Andhra Pradesh government to resolve pending disputes over the sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters. He added that the state had also taken steps to begin talks with Maharashtra for the construction of the Tummidihatti barrage on the Godavari river as part of efforts to revive the Pranahitha-Chevella project.
The Chief Minister, however, accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of playing a “hide-and-seek” game by failing to respond to Telangana’s requests for discussions. He said neither the letters sent by him nor those written by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy seeking talks had received any response from the Maharashtra government.
Revanth Reddy also expressed confidence that Telangana would secure Andhra Pradesh’s consent by December this year to lift 90 tmc ft of water from the Krishna river for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS). He maintained that the state government was pursuing all available avenues to protect Telangana’s water interests while ensuring the speedy completion of major irrigation projects crucial for the region’s development.
