Krishna water dispute should be addressed via discussions: Governor

Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan on Thrusday suggested that the two states resolve the current dispute, over utilisation of Krishna river water, through discussions.

Hyderabad: Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan on Thrusday suggested that the two states resolve the current dispute, over utilisation of Krishna river water, through discussions.

"I have already spoken to the two Chief Ministers on the issue. I have suggested that both state resolve the issue through discussions," the Governor told reporters in an informal chat at the Raj Bhavan this afternoon.

The Governor held an open session at the Raj Bhavan to exchange Diwali greetings with one and all.

AP Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani, Chief Secretaries I Y R Krishna Rao (AP), Rajiv Sharma (TS), political leaders and common people exchanged Diwali greetings with the Governor and his wife Vimala Narasimhan on the occasion.

The Governor told reporters that the Krishna River Management Board would decide on the water utilisation.

"Yes, there are problems faced by the two states but they should be addressed through discussions," Narasimhan observed.

The Governor's remarks came in the backdrop of a controversy over utilisation of Krishna river water at the Srisailam reservoir.

While the AP government alleged that Telangana was letting out water by generating power at the Srisailam Left Power House in violation of the Krishna River Management Board's order and also other relevant government orders in place. This despite water falling to the minimum storage level of 857.6 ft in the Srisailam reservoir.

The water currently available at Srisailam was hardly sufficient to meet the drinking water and balance irrigation needs, AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu pointed out last night.

He added that the Board secretary wrote a letter to the Telangana government asking it to comply with the stipulated rules and also the AP Reorganisation Act so as to ensure that water releases from Srisailam did not cause depletion below the threshold level, needed for drinking water and balance crop requirements.

The AP government stopped power generation at the Srisailam Right Power House on October 18 to save water in the reservoir.

The Telangana government, however, maintained that power being generated at SLPH was largely utilised for saving the standing crops in the state as they were dependent on electricity supply for operating pump sets.

Telangana Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation) C Muralidhar said they have not violated any orders in generating power and "will not do anything which is not in the interest of people".

Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao brushed aside the AP Chief Minister's statement and made a counter- allegation saying the AP government was not supplying adequate power to his state in contravention to the AP Reorganisation Act.

Against this backdrop, the Governor, who is common for the two states, suggested that the dispute be resolved through discussions.

Naidu has already announced he was ready for a discussion on the issue.

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