The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Projects only to divert Krishna water to Rayalaseema’

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Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Projects only to divert Krishna water to Rayalaseema’

Special Correspondent

Inter-basin transfer of water being projected as development by Chief Minister, says former CWC engineer

HYDERABAD: R. Vidyasagar Rao, retired Chief Engineer of Central Water Commission (CWC), on Monday claimed that the development of the State as projected by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was nothing but massive irrigation works that were taken up as part of inter-basin transfer of water to benefit Rayalaseema.

Strategic planning

Dr. Reddy had strategically prepared schemes for transfer of water from Godavari to Krishna basin and then to Rayalaseema. The works taken up in the process were projected as development, Mr. Rao stated at a seminar on ‘Telangana under YSR rule’ organised by Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika here.

He added that Dr. Reddy implemented irrigation projects with the sole aim of diverting water from Krishna to Rayalaseema and also to irrigate small parts of Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Prakasam and Nellore.

For the purpose, he proposed irrigation of the ayacut of Nagarjunasagar project in Krishna basin by water from Polavaram on Godavari. Water to Nagarjunasagar ayacut was also augmented by supply of 190 tmcft from Dummugudem in Godavari basin and Pulichintala which was meant to serve Krishna delta.

The water which was supposed to reach Nagarjunasagar from upstream Srisailam was diverted to Rayalaseema at Pothireddypadu head-regulator where a huge canal was dug up.

Pulichintala

He also said Dr. Reddy went ahead with Pulichintala knowing fully well that farmers of Krishna delta would not protest diversion of water to Nagarjunasagar ayacut.

Telangana issue

Former Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University K. Jaishanker said the question before Dr. Reddy was whether he was willing to concede separate Telangana. But, he evaded it by speaking in different tunes. E. Revathi, research associate at Centre for Economic and Social Studies, said coastal districts had emerged agricultural surplus because they had the benefit of green revolution which was not extended to Telangana in the same form. K. Madhusudhan Reddy, former Principal, OU Arts College, also spoke.

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