AP govt illegally diverting more than 9.12 tmc water per day from Srisailam: Vemula

"If Rajasekhar Reddy diverted Telangana water to Andhra is a thief, what should we call Jaganmohan Reddy who is diverting double the quantity of water by constructing illegal projects?" he questioned

Hyderabad: Legislative Affairs Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy on Wednesday clarified that his comments opposing the construction of illegal irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh were aimed at Andhra rulers who were trying to deny water to the farmers of erstwhile districts of Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam in Telangana. He asserted that he did not speak anything against the common people of Andhra and Rayalaseema, and his statements should not be misinterpreted.

In a statement issued here, Prashanth Reddy reiterated that he was committed to his remarks against former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who were denying water to the people of Telangana State by constructing illegal projects on Krishna and Godavari Rivers. “If Rajasekhar Reddy diverted Telangana water to Andhra is a thief, what should we call Jaganmohan Reddy who is diverting double the quantity of water by constructing illegal projects?” he questioned.

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He stated that though AICC president Sonia Gandhi was willing to create Telangana State, it was YS Rajasekhar Reddy who obstructed it and tried to suppress the Telangana movement leading to deaths of several youths in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

The Minister again accused the Andhra Pradesh government of illegally diverting more than 9.12 tmc per day from Srisailam project using Pothireddypadu and Muchumarri lift irrigation schemes without obtaining proper permissions. He pointed out that both Palamuru and Dindi projects were not new and had already received approvals in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

He demanded that the Jaganmohan Reddy government realises its mistake and immediately halts all illegal projects including Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) right canal and Rayalasema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) adhering to the stay orders issued by National Green Tribunal (NGT).

“People of Telangana are living in harmony with people of Andhra and Rayalaseema who are living in Telangana for the last seven years. Our policy is that farmers from both the States should prosper. Our only concern is that farmers of Telangana should not lose their fair share of water for the benefit of farmers from Andhra Pradesh,” he added. He asserted that he had become a Minister due to Telangana movement and its leader Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, and that he will not tolerate any attempts against interests of the State and its people.

Prashanth Reddy declared that the TRS will launch a movement against the BJP-led Central government which failed to settle the allocations in Krishna River waters for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh even seven years after State formation.

“We will also fight against the Andhra Pradesh government which is constructing illegal projects despite our repeated appeals,” he said. He urged BJP Andhra Pradesh president Somu Verraju and Telangana president Bandi Sanjay to take up the responsibility of expediting settlement of Krishna River water share between the two States.

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