Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress govt of failing to protect Telangana’s rights over the Krishna and Godavari rivers. He alleged that while the neighbouring state was pushing its plan to illegally utilise the Godavari water, the Telangana govt failed to stop the Andhra Pradesh govt. He said senior irrigation officials from both states met in Delhi on Jan 30, adding that AP used the meeting to push a plan aimed at undermining Telangana’s water rights.He alleged that Andhra Pradesh is now arguing that the Bachawat Tribunal did not allocate Godavari water between the two states, which he termed dangerous and unacceptable. Speaking at a press conference at the assembly on Monday, the BRS deputy floor leader said the minutes of the meeting, received by the Telangana govt, clearly mention Andhra Pradesh’s position. However, even after more than a month, the Telangana govt did not officially respond to the issue. “Today is March 16. More than a month has passed since the meeting minutes were received. Why has the govt not responded to the injustice being done to Telangana?” he asked.Harish pointed out that page 3 of the meeting minutes clearly records Andhra’s claim that no inter-state allocation of Godavari water exists. If the Telangana govt remains silent on such claims, it effectively amounts to accepting AP’s argument, he said.The BRS leader questioned how the Central Water Commission (CWC) could approve 76 projects across different states in the Godavari basin if the Bachawat Tribunal had not made allocations. Harish further asked under what authority the Godavari River Management Board could question a tribunal award that has constitutional backing. He said defying the Bachawat Tribunal award amounts to defying the Constitution and violating Telangana’s water rights.He criticised the Telangana govt for attending the Delhi meeting despite earlier stating that it would participate only if issues like Godavari and Banakacherla were not included in the agenda. The former minister recalled that during the BRS rule, former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao consistently worked to correct the historical injustice faced by Telangana in water sharing during the united Andhra Pradesh.Harish said the BRS govt pursued the Krishna Water Tribunal to ensure a fair redistribution of Krishna waters. Similarly, Telangana’s rights in the Godavari river under the Bachawat Tribunal award were firmly protected. Harish explained that of the 1,400 TMC of Godavari water, 968 TMC belongs to Telangana and 518 TMC to Andhra. To secure Telangana’s share, the BRS govt undertook large-scale irrigation projects and obtained approvals for projects utilising nearly 400 TMC of water, he said.
