Krishna Verdict: TDP To Stage Dharna

Expressing strong displeasure over the verdict given by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal over the sharing of waters of the Krishna River, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday slammed the state government for not properly arguing the case before the tribunal, and held the government responsible for the crisis.

Talking to media persons after an of all-party meeting convened at NTR Trust Bhavan, the TDP chief said that AP had suffered a 'major injustice' due to the tribunal's verdict, Naidu expressed fears that large swathes of land in the state would turn into a desert soon.

He added that the TDP would launch a signature campaign to protect the interests of farmers in the region.

The former CM said that the verdict has failed to mention that the water must be shared based on the availability of water in the lower riparian states.

He alleged the state had met serious injustice many times during various Congress regimes, and asked the all village panchayats and gram panchayats adjoining the Krishna river to pass a resolution seeking justice.

He also appealed to village water committees, panchayats and gram panchayats to create awareness about the losses they would suffer if the tribunal's verdict is implemented.

Condemning the tribunal's permission to raise the height of the controversial Almatti Dam in Karnataka from 519.60 meters to 524.265 metres, the TDP chief also said that a resolution has been passed at the all-party meeting, urging Karnataka not to raise the height of dam by stating that it would be a blow to the farming community.

Naidu alleged that Congress leaders were involved in rampant corruption and had looted thousands of crores of money without constructing irrigation projects, and had failed to protect the interests of the farming community.

He alleged that funds of Rs. 60,000 crore have been misutilised in the construction of irrigation projects taken up under the Jalayagnam scheme.

With this verdict, the state will not get its due share of water till 2050, he opined.

Courtesy: INN