Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said he is not ready for disputes with neighbouring Telangana over sharing the Godavari river water as he is keen to reap benefits for Andhra Pradesh with judicious use of water.
Addressing the gathering of farmers during ‘Mee Bhoomi – Mee Hakku’ at Rayavaram village in Mandapeta Assembly constituency in East Godavari district on Friday, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said, “The Telugu States will reap no benefit if they get involved in disputes over water sharing.”
“The Opposition in the State wants disputes over water. However, I prefer water rather than disputes over water. The proposed interlinking of rivers will be possible only after Polavaram irrigation project is commissioned. In future, Telangana will also benefit from the interlinking of rivers,” said Mr. Chandrababu Naidu.
“I will strive for the benefit of the people of Andhra Pradesh. Godavari river is a huge source of water. The Opposition lamented that Pattiseema Lift Irrigation scheme will make the Godavari region a desert. But in reality, it enabled supply of water from Srisailam to drought-prone Rayalaseema and will help it emerge as a hub for horticulture,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Naidu further claimed that he would strive for making the Rayalaseema region a horticulture hub for the entire country. There would be no scarcity of water in the entire Godavari region and Visakhapatnam if the Polavaram irrigation project is commissioned and would also lead to further linking of the Vamsadhara river.
