T Harish Rao threatens Andhra Pradesh government of non-cooperation'

Hyderabad: Demanding withdrawal of a letter written by the Kurnool district collector to his counterpart in Raichur, Karnataka, over taking up improvements works on the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme, TS irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Tuesday issued a veiled threat to the AP government of non-cooperation if it was not done.

Mr Harish Rao telephoned his AP counterpart Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao for the second time in 10 days and invited him for talks on the RDS project. However, Mr Uma Maheswara Rao refused, saying that all inter-state disputed should be be debated and resolved at a more appropriate level i.e. the Apex Council headed by Union water resources minister Uma Bharathi.

Angered by the attitude of the AP minister, Mr Harish Rao warned him of noncooperation by TS in finding solutions for AP related issues it if does not withdraw its letter to the Raichur collector. He also said TS will lodge a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board against the AP government’s stand over the RDS issue.

Mr Harish Rao had met Karnataka irrigation minister M.B. Patil three weeks ago in Bengaluru and sought speeding up of RDS works so that TS would get its rightful share as per the inter-state agreement. The head works of the inter-state project is in Raichur district.

Mr Patil had told Mr Harish Rao that Karnataka cannot go ahead with taking up the works unless AP agrees to take up improvement works. It was then that Mr Harish Rao had first telephoned Mr Uma Maheswara Rao and invited him for talks.

That time too, Mr Uma Maheswara Rao had told Mr Harish Rao that he could only speak to him after the Apex Council meeting which was requested by AP.