AP, TS CMs decide to pull back cops from dam, release water for crops

Hyderabad, Feb 14: Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao, on Saturday have finally come to an agreement on the sharing of water of Nagarjunsagar reservoir. Chandrababu and Chandrasekhar Rao held discussions in the presence of Governor ESL Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan here on Saturday. The two warring leaders finally decided that water will be released latest by tonight in order to save standing crops in both the states and expect for the designated engineers no other person will be allowed to step on the dam. The two leaders had finally decided that Irrigation Engineers-in-Chief (ENCs) of the two states will sit shortly and decide on the release of water for crops and drinking water purpose. They also decided at the meeting that depending on the availability of water in Nagarjunsagar dam, water will be released to save the standing crops in both the states, according to Telangana Minister Harish Rao. It was also resolved that the precious water will be used very carefully in order to ensure that crops don't go dry. Harish Rao also said the two leaders decided to seek the central government's help to adopt some principles in sharing of water for the coming Kharif season. Later, noting that the two warring states will act in coordination, AP's irrigation minister Umamaheswara Rao said Chief Ministers, Irrigation Ministers, Principal Secretaries of irrigation, ENCs would communicate and review from time to time. Finally, it was also decided that henceforth jawans of the Special Protection Force (SPF) will provide security to the dam.