Ready To Fight AP, Even God For Water Rights: KTR

Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao today asserted that the state government would not give up the state's share of the Krishna's waters, and that it was ready to not only fight neighbouring Andhra Pradesh for its rightful share of the same but even God.

Speaking after participating in some developmental programs in Narayanapet alongside ministers S Niranjan Reddy and V Srinivas Goud, he said, "Our government is committed to completing the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project so that water for irrigation can be provided to the farmers in Mahabubnagar district. We will fight anyone to ensure that we can complete the project and secure our rightful share of the Krishna's waters. Some leaders of the Opposition have been making unnecessary comments on the issue. However such remarks do not have any truth in them. Our government, led by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is committed to completing all the irrigation projects in the state and will fight to protect its water rights."

"No matter the hurdles or the criticism, we are not ready to lose any water from our share. We will take every measure to ensure that not a single drop of water from our share is lost. The people of Narayanpet should also join our fight for the rights of our state," the minister asserted.

Then, he lauded the efforts of the CM to bring welfare to the state, and added, "This year, we gave about Rs 7,500 crore to about 63 lakh farmers under the Rythu Bandhu farmer support scheme that gives aid at the rate of Rs 5,000 per acre. Apart from this, we also have various other welfare programs including KCR Kits for pregnant women, pensions for various vulnerable sections of society, and the Rythu Bhima and Rythu Vedika programs for farmers. Karnataka, just 10 km away from Narayanpet, does not implement any such schemes."

Slamming the leaders of the Opposition for their "misinformation campaign" against the KCR regime, KTR thundered, "Despite the lies of the Opposition, Telangana will continue to develop. We will also continue to remain committed to social welfare. For now, there is a pressing need for the public to express its opinion on the crucial water issue. The people of Palamuru should come out and fight for Telangana's water rights. Unmindful of the charges of the Opposition, we will complete the Palamuru-Rangareddy project and several other similar ones on priority. The CM has asked the ministers and official machinery to expedite the completion of the same."

Like KTR, Minister Srinivas Goud also criticised the Congress and BJP for resorting to "false propaganda" on the water issue, and asserted that Telangana was not ready to lose any water to AP, and would wage a fight to secure its share.

While at Narayanpet, the ministers inaugurated a paediatric ICU ward and a science park for children, and laid the foundation stone for an integrated market, a handloom training centre and textile park, and a Martyrs' Memorial.