3 States Agree to Resolve Krishna Disputes Amicably
Vijayawada: Water resources ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, Nimmala Ramanaidu, Uttam Kumar Reddy and D.K. Siva Kumar, respectively, have agreed to discuss the Krishna water disputes in a cordial atmosphere to resolve them.
The ministers took part in the second All India State Water Ministers’ Conference held under the aegis of the Central Water Commission in Udaipur in Rajasthan on Wednesday and resolved to make efforts to take collective decisions through consultations to safeguard the interests of farmers in three states by providing water for cultivation of crops.
Accordingly, the conference held discussions on water storage and the issue of desiltation in the Tungabadra dam.
AP minister Nimmala Ramanaidu underscored the need to consider the inflow of waters into the Krishna river over the last 10 years instead of the current year before considering the availability of water and its distribution among three states.
He opined that water in the Krishna river won’t reach downstream unless the upstream projects like Amati, Narayanpur, Jurala and others were filled up to the brim He said it is a tough task to supply water to the Krishna delta and also to the command area of Nagarjuna Sagar project.
The ministers from both AP and TG expressed their intent for coordination on usage of Krishna water in both Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs to prevent trouble to farmers to raise crops and to people to supply drinking water and wanted to work in a planned manner with mutual interest up to June.
Moreover, D. K. Siva Kumar expressed his interest to meet AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to discuss with him on alternate measures to be taken for desiltation at Tungabadara reservoir. However, Nimmala Ramanaidu suggested that discussions on the issue could be held at the officials’ level on certain proposals so that he could meet the CM to discuss the issue with him.
