If you do, it is right but if we do, is it wrong: Anil Kumar Asks T-Govt

Countering the Telangana government’s statements that Andhra Pradesh government was building ‘illegal projects’, irrigation minister Dr P. Anil Kumar Yadav questioned how could the neighbouring state term Rayalaseema lift irrigation project is illegal.”We are trying to utilize the water allocated to us. If you use the water allocated to you, it is right but if we use the water under our allocation, how can you term it illegal,” he asked.

He said that it was unfair on the part of the Telangana government to criticize that Andhra is constructing illegal projects and said that initiating a dispute was not their motive. He said that it would be better if the chief ministers of both states sit together and resolve the issue.

“We are not building any new reservoirs or any new supplements. We are using the water allocated to us. How can you say that the project is illegal while we are trying to draw Krishna water over 800 ft? All your irrigation projects are drawing 6.5 tmcft beyond 800 ft. You have built many such projects as per your wish. Andhra Pradesh gets to draw its potential share only at 881 feet. How can you term our projects illegal when we too are doing the same,” he asked and wondered how far was it justifiable

In the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme, Andhra Pradesh has an allocation of 4 tmcft. Once the KWDT-2 is cleared, we can use it through diversion. We built the RDS right canal to use the allocated water of the project, he said.

“Our Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy never wants to trouble others in any issue. He always wants amicable atmosphere. Did you not build Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Rangareddy projects in the last 5 years? Did we object you then? If two chief ministers are trying to be good, both of them should take it in the right spirit. Goodness should never be considered a weakness,” he suggested and said that Jagan Mohan Reddy knows when to be assertive and when to be submissive.

A couple of days ago, the Telangana Cabinet approved the construction of several projects over River Krishna, probably to counter AP’s ‘illegal projects’.