We don’t want confrontation with Telangana on river water sharing, says Naidu

A day after holding talks with Telangana over river water sharing, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday asserted that there is no need for a confrontation with the neighbouring State and advocated for `give and take’ policy to resolve the issues.

“Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana should prosper and develop. Andhra Pradesh will bear the cost of repairs to the Srisailam Project plunge pool. I have asked Telangana to utilise the Godavari river waters, if needed, and asked it to cooperate with inter-linking of rivers,” Mr. Naidu said, addressing a gathering of water users associations and farmers at Malyala in Nandikotkur mandal of Nandyal district.

Earlier, Mr. Naidu offered Jala Harathi and released water from the Malyala pump house into the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi canal which has been expanded within 100 days after commencing the works by the NDA government.

Water to Rayalaseema

Explaining his efforts to resolve water sharing issues, he said they have decided to establish the Godavari River Water Board in Hyderabad and the Krishna Board in Vijayawada. “I want to provide water to every acre of land in Rayalaseema. Completion of the Vedavati project will provide water to Aluru, Adoni and Mantralayam Assembly Constituencies. We want to take water till Chittoor district. We will complete the Adivipalli reservoir and take water from Handri to Neeva branch canal,” he said. They will provide water to Chittoor next year, he added.

“The water that starts from the footsteps of Mallanna (Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna swamy temple at Srisailam) will be taken to Venkanna (Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala) at Tirupati. This is not just inter-linking of rivers but also Gods. We will prepare plans accordingly,” he said.

Industrial development

Mr. Naidu said the party general secretary and IT Minister Nara Lokesh had released the Rayalaseema Declaration during his Yuvagalam Padayatra and the same will be implemented. “People of Rayalaseema have elected us with huge margins and we will never forget the promises made to the region. We will develop the region industrially. We will commence Drone City in Orvakal of Kurnool district. We will set up High Court bench in Kurnool and also complete the Rayalaseema Steel Plant in Kadapa,” Mr. Naidu said.

Taking potshots at the previous government, the Chief Minister said earlier schools were run without teachers while they have started recruitment of 16,000 teachers through DSC soon after coming to power. ‘‘Similarly, we have come to the rescue of the mango farmers by providing ₹4 per kg support price and also purchased tobacco from farmers,” he said and added that the government would deposit Annadata Sukhibava financial assistance to farmers in three instalments.

Mr. Naidu reiterated that the promise of free bus ride to women would also be fulfilled and they would also extend financial assistance to the unemployed as promised.

The Chief Minister recalled launching the Handri-Neeva project in 1995 at Uravakonda, a 554-km-long canal many once called impossible. He highlighted sanctioning ₹3,890 crore for canal expansion, completed in just 100 days. Mr. Naidu promised that within 10-15 days, water will reach the last villages and all reservoirs in drought-prone Rayalaseema will be filled.