Naidu exhorts preserving each drop of water

New Delhi, Nov 21 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu attended the 'Jal Manthan' Conference on inter-liking of Rivers issue held at Vignan Bhawan here on Friday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister has made a power point presentation on the focal issue and stands initiatives of State Government.

Speaking on this occasion, Chandrababu Naidu mentioned that the water is prime commodity for which there are disputes in between States and nations. It is indeed the need of the hour to preserve each drop of water but every year thousands of TMCs of water going waste into the sea. He congratulated the Union Minister for taking initiative to hold the meeting on inter-linking of Rivers with the Heads of the various States.

During the presentation, he mentioned that his past experience with the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his NDA colleagues and his observations during the visits to China, Malaysia and Singapore about the mode of preservation of water as well as treating water strips were indeed quite useful.

While explaining the water Riverine assets of Andhra Pradesh, he mentioned that at 75 per cent dependability in all four perennial rivers i.e. Godavari, Krishna, Penna and Vamsadhara and about 1,460 MTCs of water is available which cater water to over 80 Lakh farmers all over the State. He also mentioned that out of 199 Lakh of cultivable area only 101 lakh acres irrigate area, still a balance of 97.81 lakh acres area is to be irrigated.

He mentioned that water required for the balance ayacut is 978 TMCs before embarking upon Inter-state River linking Andhra Pradesh is best suited to embark upon intra-state river linking to provide farmers with assured flow of water, keeping in mind annual variability of flood water flow.

The Andhra Pradesh Government proposes to utilize 150-200 TMC of water which can bridge 15 lakh acres through inter-linking. He said Handri-Neeva Srujala Sravanti and Veligonda projects can be implemented within three Years.

Andhra Pradesh is newly formed state and at the time of bifurcation, the Central Government has announced Polavaram as a national project and more than 50 per cent of the project works are completed i.e., canals. Therefore, the State Government intends to complete this project within four years.

The right canal of this project is inter linked with the river Krishna and about 70TMCs of water will be drawn to river Krishna by way of water grafting and the government contemplates to complete this work within 8 months that is by the end of June 2015.

The Chief Minister applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative for his best international relations with neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and China which in turn will solve inter-country water disputes.

The Chief Minister stated that the drought problems in Rayalaseema area would be addressed by inter linking Krishna Godavari Rivers.