Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government should pressurise the Central government to form an apex council to resolve water disputes between AP and Telangana states, state Congress spokesperson N Thulasi Reddy said.

Telangana government’s decision to construct lift irrigation projects was strongly condemned by the Congress. The move will create acute water shortage in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress said.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, he said the Congress party welcomes the recent judgement by the Supreme Court where-in it directed the Central government to form an apex council at the earliest and address sharing of river water between the two states. In this regard, the Congressman strongly condemned the Telangana government’s decision to construct the Palamur-Ranga Reddy and Dindi lift irrigation projects. Such a move will create acute water scarcity in Andhra Pradesh, Thulasi Reddy said.

Therefore, the Central government should immediately form an apex council, define its terms of reference and along with the water tribunals schedule a meeting between the two states, he said.