There should be no hostility between Telugu states: Naidu

Harping on unity between the two Telugu states on issues like water sharing and river interlinking, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Monday said that political differences should not lead to hostility. He claimed that he has never opposed any of the irrigation projects in Telangana, including the Kaleshwaram.

Naidu took a statesman-like stand after Opposition leader in the neighbouring state, K Chandrasekhar Rao, recently accused him of manipulating the Centre to block Telangana’s development, including its irrigation projects, like Palnadu-RangaReddy Lift Irrigation project, after the central government returned the detailed project report.

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Speaking at the Third World Telugu conference in Guntur, the Chief Minister emphasised the urgent need for water conservation among Telugu people. He pointed out that last year, 6000 tmc of water from the Krishna and Godavari flowed into the sea. He further said that in the past 40 years, an average of 3000 TMC has been lost annually.

According to Naidu, interlinking of rivers through projects like Polavaram would address the country’s water woes, particularly the Godavari and Krishna river linkage. He went on to claim that he never opposed the construction of projects like Kaleshwaram in Telangana since all projects on the Godavari were beneficial as long as the water was utilised. He reaffirmed that he will complete the Polavaram project and interlink the Krishna and Godavari rivers while seeking cooperation from the neighbouring state.

The Chief Minister also said that their language was the global identity of the Telugu community, and to become number one in the world, the two states must move forward with mutual understanding. Naidu said there is no need for any hostility between the two Telugu states. Meanwhile, AP’s water resources minister, Nimmala Ramanaidu, made it clear that the state only wanted its share of water and not political fights.