Irrigation projects: KCR, Naidu spar over share of river waters

Hyderabad/Visakhapatnam: TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday warned his AP counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy not to “play petty politics over the sentiments of Telangana people or the state’s irrigation projects”, even as the AP CM said that his state will not compromise until it gets its rightful share of Krishna waters.

While Mr Naidu alleged that the upper riparian states like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana have been utilising Krishna water due to which water levels at Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar projects have come down drastically, Mr Rao said, “Telangana will utilise its share of waters 100 per cent. For the sake of your petty politics, don’t play with the Telangana people. Don’t wake up the sleeping Telangana tiger or else you will be mauled.”

 “I know the drama enacted by Chandrababu and Jagan. They are using Telangana peoples’ shoulders to fire at their targets. They will face serious consequences,” Mr Rao said, speaking at a function to welcome YSRC MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and MLA Payam Venkateshwarulu into the TRS fold.
He too said that no one can stop TS from utilising its share of waters, complete irrigation projects and provide irrigation to one crore acre.

“I am warning Andhra leaders. For your chillar (petty) politics, don’t irritate or wake up Telangana tiger. You will face the fury. We are not going to lose anything. You will suffer,” he said.

Stating that his government sanctioned new irrigation projects and earmarked Rs 25,000 crore annually in the Budget, Mr Rao said the state seeks friendly ties with Maharashtra, Karnataka and AP from “Alampur to Bhadrachallam.” “Don’t create ill will between the people of both the states. I am asking Chandrababu and Jagan: Is there not enough water in the Godavari? Besides utilisation by two states, there is surplus water in the river,” Mr Rao said.