Srikrishna Committee tours West Godavari district

The Srikrishna Committee, appointed by the Centre to look into the Telangana issue, today toured the West Godavari district to ascertain the opinion of common people on the contentious matter.

Srikrishna, a retired Supreme Court Judge who is chairman of the panel, and other members visited Kalaparru and Koppaka villages near Eluru, the district headquarters town.

The committee members met villagers and later heard political leaders and various groups at the district collector's office.

The local political leaders and commoners reportedly expressed fears that the district, known for its fertile lands due to Godavari river, may not get the irrigation water if Andhra Pradesh is split.

The committee members later told reporters that they would tour north-coastal Andhra districts like Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram next week.

The five-member panel would visit Telangana next month as bypolls to 12 Assembly seats in the region are scheduled on July 27.