The Hindu : Water to Krishna delta at any cost: CM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Water to Krishna delta at any cost: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA, FEB. 15. The Telugu Desam president and Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has said the Government is prepared to release water to the Krishna delta, by pumping if necessary, to protect the standing crop in the region. "Unlike the Congress, we are committed to providing water to the standing crop here. We are prepared to spend Rs. 25 crores to Rs. 30 crores for pumping water, if water levels are not up to the expectation,'' says Mr. Naidu.

Addressing a public meeting organised in connection with the party's `Jenda panduga' here on Sunday, Mr. Naidu criticised the Congress and the TRS for creating hurdles in releasing water to the Krishna delta. Charging the Congress with resorting to duplicity on the issue, he said that its leaders in coastal Andhra would demand release of water into the delta, while their Telangana counterparts oppose the same. "Despite obstructions, the Government released the water and saved the earlier crop in the delta,'' he said and recalled as to how he set aside his self-respect in approaching his Karnataka counterpart, S.M. Krishna, to seek release of water from Almatti to cater to the drinking water needs of the State.

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