Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his would be Andhra Pradesh counterpart Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy today decided to meet along with officials shortly to discuss pending issues between the two States.
The decision was taken when Mr. Reddy called on Mr. Rao at his camp office here to extend an invitation for his swearing in at Vijayawada on Thursday.
A release later said Mr. Rao highlighted the “give and take approach” of Telangana government with neighbouring States right from the beginning which would be maintained with Andhra Pradesh under the Chief Ministership of Mr. Reddy. The two States would prosper if they effectively used water of Godavari and Krishna.
Offering a hand of friendship to Mr. Reddy led government, Mr. Rao said he desired friendly ties with the neighbouring State. He recalled in this context his visit to Mumbai to take up with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis decades old water sharing disputes between the two States which held up construction of irrigation projects. Maharashtra government offered to cooperate with Telangana after he convinced Mr. Fadnavis that resolution of disputes would benefit both States. As a result, Telangana went ahead with Kaleswaram and other irrigation proejcts, Mr. Rao told Mr. Reddy.
Mr. Rao also reminded Mr. Reddy that about 3,500 tmc ft water from Godavari went untapped into sea every year. Telangana was in a position to use only 700 to 800 tmc ft water and the rest was at the disposal of Andhra Pradesh. Water could be diverted from Godavari right up to Rayalaseema by only two lift schemes. From Prakasam barrage, Godavari water could also be taken to Somasila reservoir by gravity.
Earlier, Mr. Rao personally received Mr. Reddy and hugged him when he arrived at his camp office in a convoy of six bullet proof vehicles. Mr. Reddy was accompanied by his wife Bharati with whom Mr. Rao’s wife and daughter-in-law exchanged pleasantries. Mr. Rao introduced the Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Deputy Speaker T. Padma Rao, all the Cabinet Ministers and TRS Parliamentary party leader to Mr. Reddy. The TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao was also present. Mr. Rao offered sweet to Mr. Reddy while complimenting him on the landslide victory of YSR Congress in elections.
Before arriving at the camp office, Mr. Reddy had an hour long meeting with the Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan when the former was invited to form the government. His supporters raised `Jai Jagan’ slogans at the Begumpet airport, outside Raj Bhavan, camp office and his Lotus Pond residence. The police closed roads for traffic all along the route.
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