The chief ministers of the two Telugu states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, are set to conduct a meeting on the 6th of October.
The meeting is said to be an Apex Council Meeting, to discuss the ongoing issue of illegal projects on the Rivers Krishna and Godavari.
The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, would chair the meeting through video conference.
The Apex Council meeting was scheduled to be held long back, but due to various reasons was cancelled twice.
The illegal construction and projects on the banks of the Krishna and the Godavari Rivers by the Telangana Government and the Andhra Pradesh Government is a long pending matter.
The two Telugu state officials were informed about the new schedule for the meeting on the evening of the 28th of September.
The governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana even reported the issue of illegal projects with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB,) the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) and the Apex Council.
Both the governments demanded to stop the construction of the projects.
According to sources, the Irrigation Department officials submitted the details of AP’s illegal projects to the Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
In May, the Telangana Government even issued a Government Order (GO) regarding the construction of a new Lift Irrigation project to lift 3 TMC of water from the Srisailam project.
Mr. Rao opposed the decision of the Andhra Pradesh Government to construct a new lift irrigation scheme.
The new scheme would lift Krishna River water from Srisailam Project, which would affect the interest of Telangana as it connects Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is also the fourth biggest river in terms of water inflow and river basins area.
KCR said, “Srisailam project is A.P., and Telangana state’s combined project. Water from these projects should be utilised by both the States. But the AP Government without even consulting the Telangana state has decided to lift water from Srisailam project and issued a Government Order (GO) in this regard.”
If Krishna water is diverted by the AP government, then united Palamuru, Nalgonda, Rangareddy districts will face water crisis for both drinking and agriculture purposes.
The Telangana Government even filed a complaint with the KRMB and sought directions to stop the project.
According to Mr. Rao, the unilateral decision taken by the Andhra Pradesh Government is against the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Act.
K. Chandrashekar Rao said if needed, he would initiate a legal fight to stop the new scheme construction.
Talasani Srinivas Yadav, the Animal Husbandary, Fisheries and Cinematography of Telangana, said, “KCR will also give a befitting counter to Andhra Government’s opposition to the Telangana projects mainly Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and other projects.”
During the Apex Council meeting in the presence of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of A.P., and Telangana CM KCR would discuss the matter to resolve the issue.
Stay tuned for further updates.
