Canal is Rightfully Ours, Water is Ours: Ambati
No wrong in release of water
VIJAYAWADA: AP water resources minister Ambati Rambabu has said Andhra Pradeh did not flout any treaty or rule on taking water from Nagarjunasagar.
Some 66 per cent of the Krishna water belongs to AP and 34 per cent to Telangana. “AP did not use even a single drop that does not belong to us. We tried to open our canal in our own territory and this water is rightfully ours,” the minister asserted.
Addressing the media here on Friday in relation to the action on Nagarjunasagar Dam, he said, “Half of the 26 gates are in our territory and that’s what we took over through a lightning action.”
About Telangana registering a case against AP in this connection, Rambabu asserted, “To protect our rights, we don't need Telangana government’s permission. It is wrong if we go into the territory of Telangana.”
“We exercised the right of the people of the AP up to the 13th gate in Sagar Dam and our right of releasing water through those gates. Due to incompetence of the Chandrababu Naidu-led TD government, we lost our rights on Sagar Dam.”
“66 per cent of Krishna waters is ours and 34 per cent is Telangana's. We will share the water accordingly. We want to use our share of water.”
Rambabu claimed that BJP’s AP president Daggubati Purandeswari “spoke as president of Telugu Desam” in support of Telangana in the Sagar dispute.
He affirmed that the YSRC works with sincerity in protecting the rights of the people of the state. “We have no political party affiliation in Telangana, we are not in any competition there, we have no interests there and we have no need to win or defeat a party.”
“We will maintain good relations with any government in the neighbourhood. We do not need quarrels with Telangana but we have taken a step forward to protect our rights,” he said.
Rambabu dismissed as “totally false” the allegation from some opposition parties that the YSRC government’s action of releasing water was to help the BRS in Telangana elections.
“When the Telugu states were divided, the Krishna waters were divided. Our main projects – Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam -- are joint projects even after separation. Based on this, the Centre formed the Krishna River Management Board. The AP government agreed for KRMB supervision to monitor Sagar and take it under their control, but the Telangana government did not agree to this. Union minister Kishen Reddy also explained the same thing yesterday,” the minister added.