Telangana Chie Minister Chandrasekhar Rao today clarified Prime Minister Narendra Modi that all the projects which were under construction in the state on Krishna and Godavari were well within the water allocations made to Telangana.
KCR, who met Prime Minister Modi today to discuss the drought situation , broached the subject of new projects planned on these rivers, which provoked opposition in Andhra Pradesh. Recently Andhra Pradesh cabinet opposed these projects and urged the center to stall the projects as they are not cleared by central water commission.
Similarly, Andhra Pradesh opposition parties such as YSRC and Congress have been agitating against these project and putting pressure on the ruling TDP to ensure that Telangana stopped Palamuru- Rangareddy and Dindi projects being constructed on Krishna in Mahabubnagar district. Raising the matter against this backdrop, KCR told Prime Minister that all these projects along with Mission Kakatiya were being grounded to make Telangana drought proof.
” Water is necessary to make the state drought proof . We have planned all these projects to utilize the water allocated to Telanana,” he reportedly said.
According to sources in the chief minister’s office, the PM evinced keen interest in knowing details of the Mission Kakatiya Project and he was intended to restore the 45,000 irrigation tanks across the state . KCR also informed the PM that Telangana government was building 38 reservoirs and barrages on these two rivers.
Later, the CM urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release entire amount the state sought for taking up drought relief measures in drought affected mandals. Accompanied by senior officials KCR called on the PM to discuss the drought situation in the state. Unlike his Andhra counterpart, KCR is not a frequent visitor to New Delhi. This time around, he landed in national capital at the invitation of Prime Minister as part of his schedule to meet all the CM’s from drought affected states. From Telangana government, KT Ramarao , IT minister, T Harish Rao, Irrigation minister are the frequent visitors.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Agriculture minister Radhamohan Singh also took part in today’s meeting at PMO. Reminding that centre had released only Rs 712 crore as against Rs 3064 crore the state sought KCR urged the PM to release the balance amount as well. ” 231 mandals from 7 districts have been affected by drought. About 21.78 lakh farmers have affected badly due to the crops loss in 13.52 lakh ha as a result of minus 14 pc deficit rainfall. Relief measures in the for supplying drinking water, fodder along with providing input subsidy have to be taken up immediately,” he said pressing for the release of amount as early as possible.
