AP, T'gana govts lock horns over irrigation projects again

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are once again at loggerheads over the irrigation projects proposed by the former on Godavari and Krishna rivers.
Alleging that the Telangana government has taken up construction of new irrigation projects in violation of the AP Reorganisation Act, the Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Centre two days ago to immediately convene a meeting of the Apex Council headed by Union Water Resources Minister to discuss the matter.
The AP Cabinet, which met here on May 2 under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, also requested the Centre to ensure that the Telangana Government do not proceed further with new projects on both the rivers till the Apex Council resolved the issue.

The Cabinet adopted a resolution on the issue to be forwarded to the Centre, Naidu had told reporters.
"The Telangana Government has taken up construction of two new lift irrigation schemes in the K-7 lower Krishna sub-basin, Palamuru-Ranga Reddy (for 90 tmc ft) and Dindi (30 tmc ft).
"Besides, it has taken up enhancement of Kalwakurti lift irrigation scheme for drawing 40 tmc ft of water from the foreshore of Srisailam reservoir," the AP Cabinet said in the resolution.

These projects were neither appraised nor recommended either by the Central Water Commission or the respective River Boards constituted under the AP Reorganisation Act, it said.

Alleging that the construction of new projects by Telangana would curtail the flow of water into the lower riparian AP, YSR Congress president and Opposition Leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy has announced that he would take up a 3-day protest at Kurnool over the TDP government in AP not speaking on the issue.
Taking strong exception to the AP government's stance and the Jaganmohan Reddy's decision to undertake a fast, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao hit out at them today.
"For their cheap politics in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu
Naidu and the opposition leader there, Jagan, are announcing a battle on us. I am asking how far it is fair," Rao said.

Saying that Telangana suffered injustice in undivided AP, he asserted that his government is now trying to ensure justice to the farmers in the state.
"I warn the Andhra political leaders. For your politics, don't touch Telangana people unnecessarily and this tiger that is now awake...We have nothing to lose, but you will be disappointed," Rao said.
Noting that there would be surplus water in Godavari even after the requirements of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are met, he said, "I am asking Chandrababu Naidu and Jaganmohan Reddy, you don't have the wisdom to draw the water. Telangana is not part of undivided Andhra Pradesh now. Your games will not work."

Rao was speaking at an event where YSRCP MP from Khammam in Telangana P Srinivasa Reddy and party MLA Payam Venkateswarlu joined TRS.
Srinivasa Reddy and Venkateswarlu said they joined TRS as YSRC president YS Jaganmohan Reddy took a stance against the interests of Telangana.
Telangana and AP were earlier engaged in a war of words over sharing of staff, resources followng bifurcation and the alleged cash-for-vote phone tapping issues.
However, a bonhomie was witnessed when Naidu personally invited Rao to the function for laying the foundation stone for AP's capital city and later when Rao invited Naidu to a 'yagam' performed by him.