KCR-JAGAN Meet Set To Unify Telugu States : Water sharing top on CMs' agenda

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is getting ready to present his 'vision' on the utilisation of Krishna and Godavari waters by two Telugu states during the first official meeting with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in Hyderabad on Friday.

The objective of the meeting is to resolve water-sharing issues pending between AP and Telangana after the division of the state and evolve a strategy for the optimum utilisation of river waters, including surplus waters by linking Godavari with Krishna by both the Telugu states.

TS Chief Secretary SK Joshi on Wednesday held a high-level meeting attended by the Secretaries of key departments and reviewed the arrangements made for the official meeting of the two CMs at Pragathi Bhavan.

Official sources said the TS government had prepared a detailed note on the status of water-sharing disputes pending before the Union government, Tribunals and in various courts.

The possibility of diversion of Godavari waters to Krishna via Srisailam project, increase of the capacity of Nagarjunasagar project , feasibility of construction of lift irrigation projects on Godavari by AP and establishment of reservoirs under Krishna in Telangana are among other issues to be discussed in the meeting.

Sources said the first priority will be given to address the water-sharing disputes out of the courts and tribunals before entering into new agreements for the utilisation of the river waters to meet the irrigation and drinking water needs of the two states all through the year.

"KCR is planning to promote Telangana as an agriculturally- rich state by utilising available river waters in coordination with the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh," an irrigation official said.

Optimum water use by the two states will also be taken up during the deliberations between the two CMs. An outcome on the pending repatriation of over 1000 fourth grade employees form Telangana working in Andhra, transfer of 200 plus electricity employees to their own state of AP from Telangana and division of DSPs (Deputy Superintendent of Police) between the two states is also expected in the meeting between the two states, officials said.