Deputy CM urges Centre to protect Telangana’s rights on Krishna water

Deputy CM urges Centre to protect Telangana's rights on Krishna water Bhatti Vikramarka asks Centre to extend financial backing to major irrigation projects in State.

Key points

• He remarked Telangana Administration was constructive in seeking solutions to the challenges it faced.
• He remarked the State sought no special privilege in respect of Krishna waters but sought its fair entitlement through the legal mechanisms already established.
• Central assistance was required for completion of PRLIS works for making it fully operational.
• On the other problems, he stated the States would naturally compete and the competition should be for investment, industry, jobs and talent.
• Resolution should not mean endless correspondence or fresh interpretations every few years.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Telangana Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, Chief Ministers Joseph Vijay, VD Satheesan, N Chandrababu Naidu and DK Shivakumar, and others, at a session in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Administration has affirmed its request to the Central Administration to take steps for protection of its rights on Krishna water as additionally the Union Government's backing for the major irrigation projects taken up by the State.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka created robust presentation of the State's position in defence of its interests at the Southern Zonal Council session chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Mahabalipuram on Thursday. Meanwhile, he remarked Telangana Administration was constructive in seeking solutions to the challenges it faced.

He remarked the State sought no special privilege in respect of Krishna waters but sought its fair entitlement through the legal mechanisms already established. The State additionally sought protection against unilateral actions that prejudice the rights of downstream States. "Established adjudicatory mechanisms must be respected and the same principles should be applied to all riparian States, " he asserted presenting the State's solid case before the SZC.

Referring to the complaint created by Karnataka against Palamuru-Rangareddy and Nakkalagandi lift irrigation schemes, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that Telangana retained its lower riparian rights over surplus waters. Allocation of Krishna water between Telangana and AP was under consideration before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II (KWDT-II) and the State was firm that the matter should be dealt with through established legal and adjudicatory process.

He created a fervent appeal to the Centre seeking financial backing to the Kaleshwaram and PRLIS explaining that rehabilitation of barrages was being pursued in respect of Kaleshwaram while revival of Pranahita-Chevella and Tummidihatti was underway. Central assistance was required for completion of PRLIS works for making it fully operational.

Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka asserted that the State's approach was to seek fair time-bound and legally sustainable resolution of inter-State problems, including the pending Reorganisation disputes between the two Telugu States. Stressing the need to close AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, where a number of matters between the two successor States remained unresolved, he sought closure of the problems in accordance with law allowing both the States to move forward. "Resolution should not mean endless correspondence or fresh interpretations every few years. Telangana's position is that the long-pending reorganisation problems should now move towards final decisions and implementation, " he stated.

He lamented that 12 years after the bifurcation, division of Schedule IX and X institutions and those not mentioned anywhere in the Act remained unresolved due to differences over headquarters and related problems. "Telangana has already communicated its views concerned these institutions and is willing to settle the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Reorganisation Act, " he averred adding settlement was necessary, but should be within the statutory framework.

On the other problems, he stated the States would naturally compete and the competition should be for investment, industry, jobs and talent. There were nevertheless some notable problems that do not respect borders like river waters, power grids and movement of workers and businesses. "Problems cross borders faster than government files do, " he remarked in a lighter vein.

Asserting that cooperation among southern States would become even more significant, he stated challenges like water security, energy, climate resilience and urbanisation that transcended boundaries would require cooperation among the southern States even while they compete.

For now, deputy CM urges Centre to protect Telangana's rights on Krishna water remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.