Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asserted that the government will not take any decision that is detrimental to the interests of the State.
The government will take suggestions and apprehensions of the Opposition and people into consideration before making a move on the proposal to lift the Godavari waters to Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar with Telangana.
‘Need friendly relations’
Intervening during a short discussion on ‘To stabilize Ayacut of Krishna Delta and Sagar Delta and also to provide drinking water to Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts by lifting Godavari water to Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar along with Telangana’ in the Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said friendly relations with the neighbouring State were required if the State were to develop.
“The Godavari waters can be shared by both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana if the proposal to lift waters is fruitful. Water requirement in nine districts of Andhra Pradesh and four districts of Telangana can be met,” he said.
Stating that water from three sub-basins of the Godavari were flowing in Telangana, the Chief Minister said only the Sabari sub-basin was in the geographical boundaries of Andhra Pradesh. As a result, A.P. would be left with a mere 500 to 600 tmcft available in the Sabari if Telangana constructed barrages and lift irrigation schemes on the drain from Nasik, Pranahita and Indravati. Going by the river disputes between various States, it was necessary to have cordial relations with the neighbouring State. The proposal was still in its nascent stage. Experts from both the States were studying the feasibility. By lifting 4 tmcft water per day to Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar for 120 days, as much as 480 tmcft water would be available for A.P., he said.
With this, irrigation and drinking water requirements could be met. “Why will Chief Ministers of two States deliberate if there is no scope for sharing waters?” Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy asked. Earlier, Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu said the government should not take any hasty decision on the proposal. Notwithstanding the bilateral agreements, it would be a Herculean task to share the river waters in a desired fashion.
Andhra Pradesh would be left with no choice if Telangana utilised the lifted waters midway before they reached Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dams, he observed.
Telugu Ganga example
In this context, Mr. Naidu said, though it had been agreed that 15 tmcft water would be shared with Tamil Nadu through the Telugu Ganga project, it did not materialise till date.
Uravakonda MLA Payyavula Keshav (TDP) pointed out that Telangana was coming out with such a proposal as it did not have sufficient land to construct dams. The TDP would support any proposal to provide drinking water to Rayalaseema, but not at the cost of State interests. Water Resources Minister P. Anil Kumar Yadav said the government was exploring three or four options to utilise the Godavari waters. “Definitely, we will ensure that the project is cost-effective,” he said.