Maharashtra to release water for Kaleswaram project

Hyderabad: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao to extend all help in the release of water from the Godavari river, in case of any emergency, after the inauguration of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.

This assurance was given to KCR on Friday when the Telangana Chief Minister called on Fadnavis at his residence in Mumbai and invited him as chief guest for the inauguration of the Kaleshwaram project on June 21.

KCR was accompanied by state Roads and Buildings Minister V Prashanth Reddy, TRS Rajya Sabha member J Santhosh Kumar, TRS party general secretary Sravan Kumar Reddy and others. He also met the Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and invited him for the inaugural ceremony of the project in the old Karimnagar district.

KCR thanked Fadnavis for extending all cooperation in the completion of the Kaleshwaram project. In the meeting, the Maharashtra CM and KCR discussed about the prevailing dry weather conditions in the two states and the availability of water resources in Godavari.

Currently, water availability in all the projects constructed on Godavari by Telangana, touched dead storage levels. A few projects maintained by Maharashtra are likely to get some water flows once the monsoon actively sets in this month.

KCR also explained the status of the works under Kaleshwaram particularly the important Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla and the 19 reservoirs taken up under the project.

The two CMs had entered agreement on the judicious utilisation of Godavari water in 2016 and the Kaleshwaram project has been taken up by the Telangana government.

"Fadnavis is warm– hearted and assured the release of water in case there is emergency to meet the irrigation and drinking water needs to Kaleshwaram in the future.

The two CMs are committed to resolve water issues through a dialogue and continue the friendly relations forever," a senior leader said.

Fadnavis accepted the KCR's invitation and expressed his readiness to attend the project inauguration along with his cabinet colleagues. KCR presented a shawl along with the invitation card to his Maharashtra counterpart.

Earlier, the Telangana chief minister also met Maharashtra Governor and invited him to grace the occasion.