Telangana Rashtra Samithi President K. Chandrasekhara Rao and Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Damodar Rajanarasimha have strongly rebutted Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Thursday comments on water sharing, Government jobs and impending severe power shortage in Telangana post-bifurcation.
The TRS President accused the Chief Minister of spreading lies and said the actual shortage in Telangana would be only 2,458 MW as against the total demand of 6,848 MW.
“I have spoken to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister yesterday and he said they can sell 1,000-1,500 MW power.
The grid connectivity is expected to be ready in the next three months,” he said.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said the issues related to water could be sorted out through deliberations.
“Sharing of water is not something new. There are pacts on water sharing between nations and States too. There is no worry whatsoever on the availability of water for Telangana.
“In fact, the Godavari water basin is so huge that it can fulfil the needs of Rayalaseema after meeting the requirements of Telangana and Andhra regions,” he said.
On the question on Hyderabad, he rebuffed the Chief Minister’s concerns and said no one had been asked to leave the city. Deputy Chief Minister Rajanarasimha, without naming the Chief Minister, commented: “A commander should be a commander, and not a conspirator.”
In another veiled comment, he said: “A statesman thinks about the next generation, a politician thinks of the next election and a failed politician thinks only about himself.”
He said he saw no reason why a bifurcation of the State would lead to bigger problems.
“The Congress Working Committee has clearly mentioned in the resolution that contentious issues such as sharing of power, river water, irrigation and Hyderabad would be amicably resolved,” he said at a press conference.
He said the high-powered committee, headed by the Union Defence Minister would ensure that these issues are resolved after talking to leaders of all the three regions.
On power situation, Rajanarasimha said Telangana State could purchase power, as there was power available in the open market.
“The two States (after bifurcation) have enough potential to become vibrant States. And, as for Hyderabad, it is an integral part of Telangana — let us make it a global city,” he added.