Irrigation ministers of three southern states Nimmala Ramanaidu (AP), Uttam Kumar Reddy (Telangana) and DK Shivakumar (Karnataka) met on Wednesday evening on the occasion of the All India Water Resources Ministers’ conference in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The ministers decided to resolve the water disputes positively without any loss to the farmers of any state.
When talking about Krishna waters, Ramanaidu said that it is not right to discuss them only by keeping in mind the water available in the river this year. Krishna issues came up for discussion with both Telangana Ministers and Karnataka Ministers. In fact, he said that the farmers here are facing a lot of trouble as Krishna waters are not reaching Andhra Pradesh downstream at the right time.
He said that the availability of Krishna waters has been in focus for the past ten years. He said that Srisailam will not get water unless projects like Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala are filled. In these circumstances, he deplored that it has become difficult to provide water to the Krishna Delta and Sagar ayacut.
Telangana and AP officials were advised to coordinate the use of water in Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs. Minister Ramanaidu told Uttam Kumar Reddy that this water should be used efficiently and with proper planning until June without causing any problems to the farmers of both states and without causing any problems with drinking water.
Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar told Ramanaidu that Karnataka is proposing some projects as an alternative in the context of siltation in the Tungabhadra river, and this requires a positive attitude from Andhra Pradesh. He said that he would meet Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on this and an appointment would be needed.
Ramanaidu proposed that meetings be held at the level of officials of both states on these proposals first and these issues can be taken to the CM later. Meanwhile, Nimmala Ramanaidu said that Union Water Resources Minister CR Patil has assured that he will provide assistance and cooperation to complete the Polavaram project within the stipulated time.
CR Patil said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also paying special attention to the Polavaram project. Nimmala, who met the Union Water Resources Minister CR Patil at the conference, submitted a special report on the projects in the state.
