Singer SPB, AP minister tested positive

Govt says Rayalaseema project will adversely affect state

Famous playback singer S.P. Balasubramanyam and AP minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy on Wednesday announced that they had tested positive for Covid-19.

Balasubramanyam said he had got himself admitted to a hospital. In a brief video posted on his Facebook page, the singer said he was fine and chose not to be at home to keep the rest of his family safe.

He said he got himself admitted to get some rest and not get disturbed. “Thanks for the concern. Lots of people called, (but) I could not attend to so many calls. I have come here mostly to take rest, so there won’t be disturbance and take the medication,” he said.

Saying he was being taken good care of and was in good hands, the singer said, “I am in good health.”

The Telangana state government on Wednesday moved a special leave petition before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on Government Order 203 issued by the Andhra Pradesh government to float tenders for the construction of the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme, that will draw water from the Srisailam project.

The state government told the Supreme Court that the Bachawat Tribunal had admitted in its award that Telangana has suffered severe losses in terms of river water share in undivided Andhra Pradesh. The TS government said that the AP government had taken a unilateral decision and floated tenders for construction of the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme, expansion of the Pothireddypadu project and increasing the capacity of the Srisailam Right Bank Canal, by issuing GO 203 in May this year.

It was contended that allowing these projects would do injustice to Telangana state, especially the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district.

The TS government told the apex court that the Rayalaseema scheme was a new project. As per the AP Reorganisation Act, new projects to be taken up by either state requires numerous clearances including from the Apex Council which comprises the Union minister for Jal Shakthi and the

Chief Ministers of both Telugu states

The TS government said that the Krishna River Management Board had asked the AP government to submit detailed project reports of these projects and stop further action until obtaining the necessary approvals. Despite this, the AP government had floated tenders for the project, the TS government said.