HYDERABAD: Union Water Resources Ministry will meet the Irrigation Ministers of southern states on Tuesday to resolve contentious disputes on sharing river water and push for interlinking of rivers.
Telangana has decided to reiterate its stand that the interlinking of rivers should begin from North India.
From the Himalayas, rivers including Manas, Sankosh, Tista, Ganga, Subarnarekha and Mahanadi should be linked first so that water reaches Godavari, State government has maintained. Only then should Centre take the Godavari waters further down to Krishna and Cauvery. Only if surplus water from northern states are diverted to Godavari would Telangana not face shortage. The State government will maintain this position on Tuesday, said sources.
Not just Telangana, sources said the government also feels that only if the interlinking is done from north to south would southern states not face any hardship for water. Harish Rao is likely to inform the same to Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal who would chair the meeting. Besides this, Irrigation Minister Harish Rao will also demand national project status for Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).
The meeting, to be attended by irrigation ministers from all southern states, would mainly discuss the linking of Godavari and Cauvery and related water disputes among states. Telangana would also raise the dispute with Andhra Pradesh over Krishna waters and the pending announcement of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal award. Only after the Tribunal’s award can projects across Krishna River be brought under the control of Krishna River Management Board. Harish Rao would also inform the Minister that there were around 60,000 minor irrigation sources in AP and TS will seek details of the same and the AP’s water usage under minor irrigation projects. Harish Rao would also demand 45 tmc extra water from Krishna, as AP was diverting Godavari water to Krishna through Pattiseema.
Harish to visit KLIS on Feb 22
Meanwhile, at a review with officials, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao told officials that he would visit Kaleshwaram project on February 22 and 23. He wanted the officials to expedite the works on KLIS. “We have just five months time. Speed up works,” Harish Rao said. The Minister also wanted the officials to complete the land acquisition process on Maharashtra-TS border for KLIS