Unity Between Telugu States Is the Key to Resolving Water Issues

Chandrababu Naidu stated that if the two Telugu states move forward together, many critical issues can find permanent solutions. He emphasized that mutual cooperation is especially essential in matters related to water resources.

He recalled that during the tenure of N.T. Rama Rao as Chief Minister, projects such as SLBC and SRBC were conceptualized to utilize Nagarjuna Sagar waters. He also noted that several key projects, including the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Project, AMR Lift Scheme, and Nettampadu Project, were completed later.

Naidu said that by conserving water under the Krishna Delta modernization initiative and reallocating the saved water to Telangana, the Bheema Lift Irrigation Project was completed. He added that lift irrigation schemes such as Guthpa, Alisagar, and Devadula were undertaken on the Godavari River.

In the Andhra region, lift irrigation projects like Chagalnadu, Pushkara, and Tatipudi were initiated, and through the Pattiseema Project, water was successfully supplied to the Krishna Delta. He also recalled that after state bifurcation, the Polavaram Project was granted special funding and enacted under a special law.

He expressed concern that in the previous year alone, approximately 6,282 TMCs of water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers flowed wastefully into the sea. Every year, nearly 3,000 TMCs of Godavari water goes unused, he said. He pointed out that Godavari waters are abundant and clarified that Telangana was never obstructed from using them. Even after bifurcation, he said, there were no objections raised to the construction of the Kaleshwaram Project.

Looking ahead, Chandrababu Naidu stressed the need to interlink the Krishna and Godavari rivers, as well as to connect all rivers in Andhra Pradesh. He stated that there should be no room for hostility between the two Telugu states and clarified that this was not a political platform, but a discussion on unity. He concluded by emphasizing that Telugu people must stand together when it comes to water issues and cooperation.