Andhra Pradesh parties seek PM's intervention to resolve water sharing row

Political parties in Andhra Pradesh today unanimously resolved to request prime minister Manmohan Singh to find an "appropriate, quick and permanent" solution to river water sharing dispute with Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"Andhra Pradesh is being deprived of its rightful share of river waters, as the upper riparian states Karnataka and Maharashtra have been constructing illegal irrigation projects on rivers Krishna and Godavari respectively," they said.

"The upper riparian states have been constructing the projects illegally without requisite clearances from the central water commission or the government of India and also in violation of Supreme Court orders.

"The prime minister should take this issue seriously and find an appropriate, quick and permanent solution to the problem," the resolution passed after an all-party meeting held under chief minister K Rosaiah at Hyderabad, said.

Main opposition Telugu Desam Party did not attend the meeting as only one of its representative was allowed, but submitted a list of suggestions to be incorporated in the memorandum to be given to the prime minister when an all-party delegation meets him on July 26.

Briefing journalists after the meet, major irrigation minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the delegation would request the prime minister to get the controversial Babhli irrigation project in Maharashtra, which was "highly detrimental to Andhra Pradesh's interests", stalled forthwith.