Harish, Devineni agree to talk on projects

When Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao rang up, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Devineni Umamaheswhar Rao responded positively to hold talks. Besides asking to finalize a date and venue for the same, Devineni expressed his intention to discuss the same right in front of Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharathi in the national capital in the near future. Both have agreed to settle the scores between the two States which are at loggerheads over some time.

style="font-size:13pt">The telephonic deliberations assume importance as AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu through a Cabinet meeting had resolved to move Supreme Court on Palamuru–Ranga Reddy lift scheme and write to the Centre. And in equal temper, Naidu’s Telangana counterpart KCR accused the former of hatching a conspiracy to obstruct the Telangana projects.

Harish Rao said Devineni agreed to hold talks on the issue and take up the same with apex body on water sharing among the two Telugu States. Devineni also said Telangana and Andhra Pradesh should try to protect their interests by fighting against illegal projects of Karnataka and Maharashtra. He also said Telangana’s new projects will have adverse impact on Nagarjuna Sagar, Krishna Delta, Hyderabad drinking waters and also farmers of Nalgonda and Khammam district.