YS Jagan changes tack, says not proper to politicise water issues

Addressing a farmers' meeting at Rayadurgam, CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy said it was not proper to politicise water issues

Anantapur: Finding himself thoroughly exposed after rubbing the neighbouring Telangana State on the wrong side, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy appears to have changed tack.

Addressing a farmers’ meeting at Rayadurgam in the district on Thursday on the occasion of Rythu Dinotsavam to mark the birth anniversary celebrations of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, he said it was not proper to politicise water issues. Farmers are farmers wherever they may be, he said, brushing facts under the carpet.

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The AP Chief Minister said he had no intentions of picking up rows with the neighbouring States and always wanted friendly relations. He had never interfered in the politics of Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu but some ministers in Telangana chose to speak listlessly, he remarked.

Arguing that Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana together formed the combined Andhra Pradesh, he said that all were aware of the share of waters for each of the regions. Recalling that Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and the Central government jointly made the water allocations in June 2015, he said that unless the water level was kept at 881 ft, Pothireddipadu could not get any water. During the past 20 years, the water level at Srisailam was never above the 881 ft, barring for 20 or 25 days. he stated.

Jagan also alleged that water was drawn at the below 800 ft level by Telangana for the Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi, and Kalwakurthy projects. When Telangana was producing electricity even at 796 ft level, what was wrong if AP utilised the water at the below 800 ft level, he asked.

On the criticism by the Telugu Desam Party that the YSR Congress Party government in Andhra Pradesh had failed to protect the interests of the state, Jagan wondered what Chandrababu was doing when Telangana went ahead and constructed its projects.

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