Telangana CM Calls for Dialogue with Andhra Pradesh to Resolve Water Disputes

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday said his government prefers dialogue and cooperation over disputes to resolve inter-state water issues, particularly with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. He stressed that permanent solutions could be achieved only through friendly discussions and mutual understanding, not by confining matters to courts and tribunals.

Speaking after inaugurating Sujen Medicare Private Limited on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister said Telangana was open to holding constructive talks with Andhra Pradesh to settle long-pending water-related concerns. Without naming his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, he appealed for cooperation on irrigation projects being taken up by Telangana on the Krishna river.

Mr. Revanth Reddy pointed out that projects such as the Palamuru–Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Dindi, and SLBC were approved during the undivided Andhra Pradesh era. He urged the neighbouring State not to raise objections to these projects, stating that such objections were creating hurdles in obtaining environmental and Central Water Commission (CWC) clearances.

“Due to the lack of statutory approvals, the State is unable to secure bank loans and central funding, which is putting additional pressure on the State exchequer,” he said. He added that the Telangana government was ready to address any genuine concerns raised by Andhra Pradesh through dialogue.

“This is not about politics. Our priority is farmers, people, and investors. We do not want disputes; we want permanent solutions,” the Chief Minister asserted.

Cooperation Beyond Water Disputes:

Highlighting the need for broader inter-state cooperation, Mr. Revanth Reddy said Telangana, which does not have its own seaport, had proposed a 12-lane access-controlled expressway and railway connectivity to Machilipatnam Port. He said Andhra Pradesh’s support was crucial for this project, just as Telangana’s cooperation was important for the development of Amaravati as the State capital.“Only through mutual give-and-take can both States progress,” he observed.

Focus on Jobs and Investment:

On employment generation, the Chief Minister said the Congress government had already filled 75,000 vacant posts since coming to power in December 2023. Acknowledging that nearly 30 lakh youth in the State were unemployed, he said Telangana was positioning itself as a global destination in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, global capability centres, and data centres.

He underlined that attracting private investment was essential to create large-scale employment opportunities.

Vision Telangana 2047:

Mr. Revanth Reddy said the government had released the “Telangana Rising 2047” vision document during a global summit, focusing on three pillars Cure, Pure, and Rare to ensure holistic development. The State, he said, aimed to compete with global hubs such as Germany, Japan, South Korea, and New York.

New policies have been introduced in industrial, power, tourism, endowments, and healthcare sectors, and a new education policy would be announced soon, he added. Transparent planning and projects like the Future City were expected to boost land values and attract investors.

Recalling Hyderabad’s growth over the last 30 years, Mr. Revanth Reddy said sustained efforts since 1995 had transformed the city into a global competitor. He praised Sujen Medicare for setting up South India’s first IV fluids manufacturing unit using German technology.

The event was attended by Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, MP Keshava Reddy, Legislative Council Chief Whip Dr. Mahender Reddy, and other public representatives.