Former irrigation minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao on Wednesday alleged that Andhra Pradesh was pushing to rob Telangana of its Godavari river water rights and questioned the silence of the state government on this issue.
Addressing a press conference, Harish Rao accused the Congress government, particularly Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, of watching silently as AP sought a review of clearances granted to several major projects in Telangana on Godavari river.
He said the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) was scheduled to meet in Hyderabad on August 18, and the agenda proposed by AP, was a direct threat to seven projects of Telangana —including the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme, Choutuppal Hanumantha Rao project, Chinna Kaleshwaram, Chanaka-Korata, Modikunta Vagu, Kadem Gudem and the Sitarama lift irrigation scheme.
“In all, AP is threatening to rob Telangana of 383 tmc ft of water from the Godavari,” Harish Rao alleged.
On the one hand AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu publicly states he is not opposed to Telangana projects but AP’s official communications convey a different position, the BRS leader said. “Andhra Pradesh had written to the Union Government seeking intervention regarding Telangana projects and had now incorporated similar proposals in the GRMB agenda,” he said.
The Sitarama scheme was crucial for Khammam district, while Kaleshwaram, Chinna Kaleshwaram, Modikunta Vagu and the Sammakka barrage were vital for irrigation and drinking water requirements across several districts, including Hyderabad, Harish Rao said.
“Revanth Reddy must immediately clarify Telangana’s position on the GRMB meeting agenda. The two Union ministers from the state, G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, must also publicly state their stand on the issue and protect Telangana’s water interests,” he said.
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