Andhra Pradesh   

Orissa disputes A.P. claim over Vamsadhara

Santosh Patnaik

VISAKHAPATNAM: Orissa has strongly disputed the claim of Minister for Major Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah and declared that their (Orissa's) right over Vamsadhara was ``absolute and unquestionable.''

Orissa Minister of State for Water Resources Rabi Narayan Nanda told The Hindu on Saturday that there was no truth in the claim of Mr. Lakshmaiah that Orissa was violating the understanding arrived at with Andhra Pradesh. ``It's an emotional issue for the Orissa people. The Vamsadhara is the proud possession of our State. It's our property and we will go ahead with our plans to construct the Vamsadhara-Rushikulya linkage project at a cost of over Rs. 900 crores,'' Mr. Nanda declared, brushing aside Mr. Lakshmaiah's threat to take legal action. The Andhra Pradesh Minister had opposed the Orissa Government's decision to launch survey and investigation work on the upper and lower reaches of Vamsadhara ``in violation of an understanding arrived at with Andhra Pradesh." He told reporters at Hyderabad on Friday that they would complain to the Union Ministry of Water Resources and the Central Water Commission against Orissa for its threat to cut into Andhra Pradesh's share of the water.

`No going back'

Mr. Nanda, a lawyer himself and holding independent charge of the Water Resources portfolio, said his State would go ahead with the plans to irrigate 30,000 hectares in the drought-prone and naxal-hit districts of Ganjam, Rayagada and Gajapati. The project would also provide a permanent solution to the drinking water problem in Berhampur — the largest city of South Orissa.

Making it very clear that Orissa was not interested in picking up a confrontation with anyone, Mr. Nanda said: "Utilisation of Vamsadhara waters is an emotional issue for our people."

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