Hyderabad, May 10: Ahead of a meeting in New Delhi on May 12 under the aegis of the Central Water Commission (CWC), Chief Minister K Rosaiah held talks with his Maharashtra counterpart Ashok Chavan about Pranahita- Chevella Lift Irrigation project today.
The chief minister said the talks were intended to impress upon Maharashtra on constituting a joint committee on the Pranahita project an directed Chief Secretary SV Prasad to see that other state cooperates.
At a review meeting with Major irrigation minister P Laxmaiah and chief secretary SV Prasad over the row between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra on sharing of Godavari waters, he asked them to come up with strat
egies to impress upon the CWC over Maharashtra’s indifferent attitude.
He wanted them to come up with strong arguments on May 12 meeting and see that the State’s interests were not compromised.
Rosaiah directed irrigation minister on the need for a two-pronged approach to protect state’s interests with regard to Godavari water.
“We have to be strict on sharing of water and have to fight with the upstream states of Godavari so that each drop entitled to us reaches us. On the other hand the projects proposed on the river should be completed as early as possible to fulfil the aspirations of the farmers,” he said.
Making it clear that there was a need to stop the illegal usage of river water by the upstream states, the chief minister said that Maharashtra was not giving proper information to the CWC.
He said that Maharashtra had not only built about 11 projects illegally on the Godavari but also built one in the midst of Sriramsagar project, depriving the farmers of its command area much needed irrigation facility and informed that the issue would be taken up with the Centre once again.
Expressing angry over the attitude of Maharashtra, Rosaiah stated that it was going ahead with project even after the Supreme Court had restrained it by several orders. Though the state was successful in stopping Maharashtra from erecting gates on the Babhali project, there was a need to be vigilant in this regard, he stated.
The Chief Minister wanted the Irrigation Department to see that the works on the Lendi and Lower Penganga projects, which were taken up jointly with Maharashtra should go as per the agreements made.
The Chief Minister said that out of 86 projects being taken up under Jalayagnam, 12 have been completed so far.
—Agencies