Amaravati, July 25: Reiterating that Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments would work in tandem for the optimum utilization of Godavari waters for mutual benefit, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that all options will be explored to ensure that the waters would be taken to the arid regions of the state.

Intervening during the debate on sharing of Godavari waters, the Chief Minister said, ‘we will try to maintain cordial relations with the neighbouring state of Telangana and are in discussion with it as to how best we can utilize the Godavari waters in the most effective manner through bilateral agreements which are mutually beneficial.

As most part of the River Godavari flows from Telangana and we are at the lowest tip we will maintain cordial relations with Telangana Government and work out a strategy to bring water to perched regions of both the states.

Amidst protests from the Opposition, the Chief Minister said, when Kaleswaram lift irrigation project was started Chandrababu Naidu was the chief minister and he was a silent spectator.

When the project was nearly completed, he was still staring at it. He could not do anything other than watching the project getting complete. He was the chief minister when the height of Almatti dam was increased from 519 mtrs to 524 mtrs and he did not do anything.

The engineering of irrigation projects has changed drastically and instead of dams, now barrages are built to store water and in the coming days the need for water will go up and the supply will be coming down.

In this backdrop, we have to work in tandem with Telangana government to get water to Srisailam and Nagarjuna sagar, en route providing water to nine districts in our state including Rayalaseem, Prakasam, Nellore and Guntur on our side and the southern region of Telangana.

Our mutual cooperation is only to make the optimum utilization of Godavari waters when it is in spate from June to October. During that period about 3,000 tmc has been going down the drain.

Even if we can lift 4 tmc per day during the rainy season when the river floods we will be in a position to draw about 500 tmc of water in the 120-day period, he said.

The decisions will be taken after thorough debate and keeping in view the best interests and future needs of the people.

The Opposition is trying to politicize the issue by bringing in regional feelings but we are open to all ideas and suggestions which will benefit the state and take the waters to the perched regions, he said.

Earlier, Irrigation Minister Anil Kumar Yadav said that the AP and Telangana state governments have been working together for the maximum utilization of river waters.

The two governments are in the process of drafting a policy though which 480 tmc of Godavari water will be taken to Srisailam and Nagarjuna sagar and suggestions from all quarters are welcome.

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