TDP criticises AP Govt move to divert krishna water

Vijayawada, May 23 (UNI) The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today criticised the Andhra Pradesh for taking steps to allegedly divert about 55,000 cusecs of surplus water in river Krishna to Kadapa district through the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator.

Party state general secretary Kadiam Srihari, addressing a press conference here said the diversion of water from Krishna river would deprive the Krishna delta farmers of their rightful share as per the Bachawat Committee recommendations.

The former irrigation minister called upon the Krishna delta farmers to scuttle the state government's move.

The Krishna delta and Nagarjunasagar Project would dry up if the water was diverted to Kadapa, he said adding that the TDP would strongly protest if Godavari water was diverted to Nagarjunasagar Tail Pond from Dummugudem in Khammam district.

Mr Srihari demanded that the state government immediately convene an all-party meeting and also an experts committee meeting to discuss these issues.

He charged Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy with taking unilateral decisions on the diversion of waters without consulting the political parties.

Though the state government said it would complete eight irrigation projects in the first two years after assuming power in 2004, it had not completed a single irrigation project so far, he added.

UNI