Issues relating to water-sharing within regions in Andhra Pradesh and with neighbouring States will be resolved by committees to be formed by the Centre, according to Major Irrigation Minister P. Sudarshan Reddy.
Contradicting what the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said two days ago, that water-sharing will be a major hurdle in carving out a separate State of Telangana, the State Irrigation Minister said, “There was nothing to worry about. People will get their fair share.”
Any issue that crops up during the course of formation of separate State will be resolved by committees to be set up as per the announcements made before.
Concerns addressed
He said that there was nothing to worry about as water-sharing is a major issue not only with the State but also with neighbouring States and concerns were being addressed at different forums including some in the courts.
When questioned if he was in disagreement with what the Chief Minister said two days ago, that if the current situation continued and water issues are not resolved, there won’t be any water to drink forget irrigation works, the Minister said that he was of the view that there wont be any problem.
As an Irrigation Minister, “I feel there won’t be any water wars.”
The sharing of water within inter-State river systems of Krishna and Godavari between Maharashtra, Karnataka and lower riparian State of Andhra Pradesh have been well laid out through various river water tribunals.
Some more concerns between the States are being looked into by another tribunal.
Likewise, the issue relating to water-sharing within the State will be sorted out, he felt.
Referring to the need to develop Polavaram multi-purpose project and Pranahitha-Chevella project, he said that there were some local issues with regard to land acquisition.
However, he expressed confidence that these would be sorted out and felt that these projects will be a major boon for people across different regions.
rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in