Ready for dialogue with Telangana on Krishna water: AP Irrigation Minister

Vijayawada: Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said that the State government was ready for a dialogue with the Telangana government on Krishna waters to protect the interests of both Telugu States.

Speaking to press persons here on Thursday, he said both AP and Telangana governments were using Krishna water judiciously to meet the drinking water requirements of people. He stressed the need for bringing up pressure on the Centre to resolve the pending issues between two States.

Meanwhile, the Minister took exception to YSRC chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s comments that the TDP government had failed to protect the interests of AP.

While suggesting the Opposition leader to refrain from mudslinging on the TDP government on the issue, he alleged that the former chief minister YS Rajashekar Reddy had meted out grave injustice to people of AP by failing to protect Krishna waters.

He said the former CM had given a memo to Krishna Water Tribunal in 2006 which stated that the AP had planned Veligonda, Handri Niva, Galeru Nagari, Kalwakurthi and Nettempadu projects against the availability of surplus water. “Though then the TDP was in Opposition, we had filed a special leave petition to safeguard the interests of AP on Krishna waters,” he claimed.