Telangana, Maharashtra ink pact for construction of barrages on Godavari.

The Telangana and Maharashtra governments recently signed a pact in Mumbai that will pave way for construction of five barrages on the Godavari river and its tributary Pranahita and Penganga in Mumbai. The move is expected to play a major role in transformation of Telangana agriculture by bringing in new areas under irrigation.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis.

Later, interacting with newspersons, Chandrasekhar Rao described this as a historic arrangement which will help transform nine districts in the State and irrigate lakhs of acres, thereby transforming it into a green State.

Maharashtra CM said the accord between the two states would play a crucial role in ensuring water supply to farm lands. When water can be shared between countries, why can’t States share water resources? He wanted to know. Therefore, the new agreement is aimed at ensuring water sharing between the two States, he said.

While various agreements made by the earlier governments will continue without being altered, it is proposed to bring all the earlier projects and new ones under one umbrella. A new board to be constituted will look into technical issues between the States. This is first inter-State agreement inked after the formation of the new state of Telangana.

Unlike earlier governments, most of the issues are proposed to be resolved without confrontation and all issues will be resolved by mutual cooperation. Rao said this pact will serve as a model for solving inter-State disputes.

HBL