Withdraw river order, TS leaders tell Centre

KCR is using Krishna issue as fodder for Huzurabad polls

Leaders cutting across political lines, besides retired irrigation engineers, demanded that the central government withdraw its gazette notification taking control of all irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers.

The leaders were participating in a round-table organised by Telangana Journalists Adhyayana Vedika at the Press Club here on Monday. Those who addressed the meeting included former Lok Sabha member Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Dasoju Sravan of Congress, Prof. Kodandaram (TJS), Ravula Chandrashekar Reddy (TTDP), and Dr Prakash Reddy (BJP), among others.

The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution asking the centre to review its decision of issuing the gazette notification.

Kodandaram called upon all parties to come together by setting aside their political agendas and launch a joint struggle, so that Telangana could get its rightful share of Krishna and Godavari rivers. He said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s inefficiency has led to the situation wherein centre has issued a gazette notification taking control of all projects on the two major rivers.

Dasoju Sravan accused the CM of raking up Krishna water issue all of a sudden to whip up regional passions with an eye on upcoming Huzurabad by-poll. He pointed that Chandrasekhar Rao had kept silent for over a year on AP’s illegal projects on Krishna by colluding with AP Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. “Now, KCR is raising a hue and cry as though the AP government has launched Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme only now.”

Vishweshwar Reddy lashed out at Chandrashekar Rao for taking up construction of projects in an “unscientific manner” in the name of redesigning projects, including Pr ana hit ha Che vella, which has harmed the interests of Rangareddy district.

However, BJP leader Prakash Reddy maintained that the centre’s gazette notification is in interests of both TS and AP, as no state will now be able to construct illegal projects on Krishna and Godavari.

He felt the notification will ensure each state gets its rightful share of water without any trouble.