Will take Krishna-Godavari water, complete projects: CM KCR

The Chief Ministers of Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh on Monday kicked up a storm over construction of projects and claiming rights over Krishna and Godavari waters.

TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, while laying the foundation stone for the new barrage at Medigadda across Godavari, said TS was entitled to 1,300 TMC ft of the two rivers. Meanwhile, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu got a resolution passed in his Cabinet seeking intervention of the Centre in all new projects taken up by the TS government, including the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy and Dindi, using Krishna surplus waters.

Both states have been fighting for over two years before the Justice Brijesh Kumar Tribunal and the Supreme Court seeking a review of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, which according to them, has done great injustice to both the



states.

Meanwhile, the TS government decided to go ahead with construction of the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy and Dindi projects against which the AP government had complained to the Krishna River Management Board.

However, the rhetoric was high on both the sides on Monday, with Mr Chandrasekhar Rao vowing to complete all proposed projects on Krishna and Godavari stating: “At any cost of time, come thunderbolts, lightning or earthquakes, TS will utilise its 1,300 tmc ft of water.”

Addressing a media conference after the AP Cabinet meeting, Mr Naidu said as per the AP Reorganisation Act, Section 84 onwards, two river management boards have been created and any new project taken up by any state shall have to have the permission of the Board, and the apex council under the chairmanship of the Union Water Resources minister should resolve all disputes.