The Hindu : Alamatti water for A.P.: CMs set tone

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Alamatti water for A.P.: CMs set tone

By S.Rajendran

BANGALORE SEPT. 20. The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, N.Chandrababu Naidu and S.M.Krishna, today made a beginning in forging a cordial understanding between the two States, particularly in sharing the waters of the Krishna apart from sorting out other issues which in recent years have resulted in several litigations.

Sources privy to the discussions between the two Chief Ministers told THE HINDU that with both the States facing a severe drought, Karnataka had stated that it would not hesitate to release sufficient water from the Alamatti Dam to provide drinking water to Andhra Pradesh on humanitarian grounds. Release of water for irrigation was, however, another matter and hinged on the north-east monsoon.

Mr. Krishna is stated to have made it clear that he believed in a policy of give and take and expected a positive response from the neighbouring States.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is stated to have told his Karnataka counterpart that he was in no hurry for the release of water from the Alamatti Dam and that he had commenced a friendly discussion that could lead to release of water from the dam in the latter part of the year.

With the Alamatti and the Narayanapur dams almost filled to the brim, Karnataka is already releasing sufficient water downstream. Andhra Pradesh has sought 50 tmcft of water from the Alamatti Dam.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu arrived in Bangalore this afternoon soon after his return from a trip to Israel and Italy. He straight drove to the residence of Mr. Krishna where he had a one-to-one discussion with the latter for about an hour. Later, the two Chief Ministers held another round of discussion in the presence of senior officials of both the States.

The Irrigation Ministers of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, H.K.Patil and K.Sreehari, presented an overall picture of the water requirements of their respective States. The Chief Secretary to the Karnataka Government, B.S.Patil, and the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, K.Jairaj, were present.

Later, the two Chief Ministers told presspersons that ''We have made a beginning in sorting out inter-State issues in the interest of the people. Both the States are facing a severe drought. We have held discussions on a range of issues concerning the two States and they will be followed up after detailed discussions at the official level.''

The two States were expected to constitute a committee of officials each and they would discuss the inter-State issues.

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