AP Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu has announced that Nagarjuna Sagar water will be released for the drinking water needs of Andhra Pradesh. The AP Police took control of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam till gate number 13 in the early hours of Thursday morning. The AP government has been arguing for some years that injustice is being done in the release of water to the Andhra region under the management responsibility of the Sagar under the Telangana government.
Due to insufficient rains in the Krishna basin this year, there is a severe shortage of drinking and agricultural water in the delta. The delta farmers below Prakasam barrage are getting Godavari water from Pattiseema but there is severe shortage in the area below Sagar. For years, AP has been alleging that they are discriminating in releasing water to the areas under Sagar Kudi Canal.
In the matter of Sagar waters, discussions are going on between the water resources department officials of the two states for a few days. On the polling day of Telangana Assembly elections, AP Police tried to take Sagar Dam under their control. They took control of 13 gates on the Andhra Pradesh side and set up barricades. Minister Ambati Rambabu announced that drinking water will be released to Sagar Kudikalva on Thursday.
On the other hand, various criticisms are being expressed on the AP government’s actions during the Telangana assembly elections. The Congress is alleging that the Sagar controversy was brought to the fore to benefit the BRS party in the elections. In AP too, the opposition parties have been criticizing the ruling YCP for some time.