Cong: CM favours AP, ignores TS

Krishna water project of AP will create drinking water crisis in city: Uttam

State Congress leaders on Friday alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was directly helping Andhra Pradesh complete expansion of the Pothireddypadu head regulator and start work on the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme which would deprive Telangana state of 6.3 tmc ft of Krishna water.

TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, AICC secretaries A. Sampath Kumar and Vamshichand Reddy and TPCC Krishna Water Protection Committee convener Ram Mohan Reddy were addressing a press conference through Zoom App.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the two projects being pursued by the AP government would badly hit the farmers of south Telangana state and drinking water supply to Hyderabad.

The TPCC chief said: “KCR must answer as to why he is helping the AP government take away Telangana’s share in Krishna water. His silence is raising serious suspicions of a secret deal.”

Referring to the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Telangana state government in the Supreme Court, he alleged Rao was trying to create new complications to help the AP government.

“This is a straight fight between AP and TS governments and our intention should be to stop AP from taking away 6.3 tmc ft of Krishna water. But the TS government in its SLP has made Karnataka the first respondent, Maharash-tra the second and AP the third respondent. This is nothing but diluting the main issue and diverting attention away from AP's new projects. This was done deliberately so as to delay the legal process which will help AP government complete both the projects.”

The Congress leaders asked why Rao did not advance the Cabinet meeting to August 4 or put it off to August 6 so as to facilitate the meeting of the Apex Council on August 5. “KCR deliberately got the meeting postponed to help the AP to complete the tender process. Should we act before the tender process or wait for the completion of the entire process,” they asked. They said the Chief Minister should have first participated in the Apex Council meeting and then approached the Supreme Court.

The TPCC chief said he would implead in the case in the Supreme Court as he was elected from Nalgonda, which is irrigated by water from the Nagarjunasagar. “The Congress will protect the interests of farmers in South Telangana,” he said.