Parched Telangana which is reeling under severe drought and heatwave wants 3 tmc of water from Karnataka from Narayanapura Reservoir across river Krishna to meet the drinking water needs of its people in districts adjoining Karnataka.
A three-member Ministerial delegation led by the Tenangana Minister for Irrigation, Marketing and legislative Affairs, T Harish Rao, met the Karnataka Water Resources Minister MB Patil on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum to release the water for the parched Telangana.
Telangana irrigation Minister Rao, said “Karnataka may release at least 3 tmc of water from Narayanapur dam across Krishna, and can adjust it during monsoon”. Maintaining that the Telangana Government is for strengthening and fostering cordial relationship between its neighboring States he said that “we are in favour of settling the issues on the basis of mutual-understanding rather than resorting to any kind of confrontation”.
Responding to the plea of the Telangana Ministerial delegation’s plea for the release of water from the State, Karnataka water resources Minister MB Patil assured the Telangana delgation to consider the issue on humanitarian basis in consultation with CM Siddaramaiah.
“I will take up the matter with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the officials concerned on the issue, and a decision would be taken soon after assessing the availability of water and the requirement of the State” he said.
Stating that the people of the State are also facing severe shortage of drinking water and the Government is making all efforts to mitigate the problem, the Karnataka Minister however assured to consider the plea of the Telangana on priority basis as early as possible.
In response to other plea of the Telangana Ministers on the Rajoli Banda irrigation project, which is being executed jointly by both Telangana and the Karnataka State, to hasten up the works, he said that “while the second and fourth stage works of the Rajoli Banda project had been completed the first and the third stage of works are in progress and would be put it on fast track”.
Thanking the Minister for responding positively to both the issues, Telangana Minister Harish Rao said that “Whatever the obligations on the part of the Telangana Government on the project would be fulfilled immediately without any delay”.
Referring to the objection raised by the Andhra Pradesh State Government on increasing the height of the Rajola Banda reservoir by six inches, he said that “The matter would be taken up with the Andhra Pradesh State Government and settle the issue as early as possible”.
Jupally Krishna Rao, Minister for Panchayat Raja nd Rural Development, C laxma Reddy, Health Minister and Guvvala Balaraju, MlA, Telangana assembly, and S K Joshi, principal secretary, irrigation department of Telangana government were also present on the occasion.