'AP ready for another round of legal battle with Karnataka'

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, JULY 2. The Major Irrigation Minister, Mr. Mandava Venkateswara Rao, has said the Andhra Pradesh Government is ready to fight another round of legal battle with Karnataka with regard utilisation of Krishna waters.

The Government is already preparing to come up with its views with regard to the fresh charges levelled by the Karnataka Government and its threat to approach the Supreme Court to settle the matter.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Monday, the Major Irrigation Minister said the AP Government was just waiting for the Karnataka Government to go ahead with its next move.

He said despite the Supreme Court giving clear directions regarding the projects taken up by the Andhra Pradesh Government in the Krishna basin, Karnataka was trying to rake up the issue once again. He said Andhra Pradesh was utilising the surplus water of the Krishna for which construction of irrigation projects like Bhima Lift , Srisailam left Bank Canal, Srisailam Right Bank Canal, Pulichintala and Telugu Ganga was a must. These constructions had not violated the Bachawat award, he added.

Mr. Venkateswara Rao blamed the Karnataka Government for going ahead with the Paragodu project even after the Andhra Pradesh Government had objected to it. Similarly, when the neighbouring State raised hue and cry over the construction of a feeder channel in Madaksira mandal of Anantapur district, the work was immediately stopped. Moreover, the Anantapur District Collector was asked to take necessary action and ensure that the work is stopped.

With regard to the Lindi Inter-State irrigation project benefiting Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh and Nanded district of Maharastra, Mr. Venkateswara Rao said he was waiting for a word from his counterpart for suitable dates to sign a memorandum of understanding.

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