Vijayawada:Even as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are in a row over AP pushing for utilisation of 200 TMC ft of Godavari River floodwater per annum by taking up the Polavaram-Banakacherla project for benefitting the farmers of Rayalaseema region, nearly 1,000 TMC feet of water has been discharged into the sea from the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram over the last 75 days from June 1.This shows the massive quantities of Godavari water going waste into the sea every year, especially when heavy rainfall occurs in the upper and local catchment areas of the river during. The AP government claims that on an average 3,000 TMC feet of water is flowing into the sea every year without being utilised for the benefit of people.In his message on the Independence Day, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has once again advised Telangana not to get worried over AP’s right to use such water, being a lower riparian state. However, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, during his Independence Day address, has countered Naidu saying not a drop of water, whether of Godavari or Krishna rivers would be allowed to be utilised by AP by undermining the interests of four crore people in Telangana.A senior official of the AP Water Resources department feels Telangana government is more worried about AP getting funds from the Centre for taking up the Polavaram-Banakacherla project than AP’s claim of its right to use just 200 TMC feet of water when 3,000 TMC feet of water drains into the sea.Godavari River superintendent engineer K. Gopinath said, “AP, being a lower riparian state on Godavari River, can utilise surplus water to meet its increasing needs, as it will in no way affect the upper riparian states.”Telugu Ganga project superintendent engineer C. Pratap said, “Despite having several irrigation schemes, Rayalaseema region faces drought every four years, given its history for 50 years. There is a need for supplementation and augmentation of existing systems to deal with this issue and benefit the people.”AP is of the opinion that the row over proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla project, estimated to cost ₹81,000 crore, rather on being discussed on merit, is taking a political turn with both the ruling and the opposition parties in Telangana raising a hue and cry to stall the project on one pretext or other. They fear AP could get funds from the centre, being a partner of NDA in the central government.
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