Andhra CM Naidu meets governor over disputes with Telangana

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday held a meeting with Governor ESL Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad reportedly over the high-handed behaviour of the Telangana government on many issues, including the Krishna water dispute and funds in Labour department. [caption id=“attachment_1787065” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu met state governor over disputes with Telangana governor. AFP[/caption] Though there is no official communication on what transpired at the 30-minute meeting, sources said the Chief Minister complained about the ‘misdeeds’ of the Telangana government in the recent days, including the Srisailam water row and the dispute over funds in Labour Department. He also reportedly discussed about the institutions and organisations listed in Schedule IX and X of the AP Reorganisation Act and those that have not been included in any Schedule that have become a bone of contention between the two states with Telangana government unilaterally going ahead with their division. The Chief Minister reportedly explained to the Governor the Telangana government’s repeated violation of the Krishna River Management Board’s orders issued from time to time on utilisation of water at Srisailam reservoir for power generation. Though the situation was “very precarious” due to shortage of over 78 tmc ft of water in river Krishna this season, the Telangana government was adamantly generating power at the Srisailam Left Power House and letting out water into the sea. Regarding the Labour Department, the Chief Minister reportedly lodged a strong protest with the Governor over the Telangana government’s high-handed actions in booking cases against higher officials of the AP government and the threat issued to banks asking them to freeze accounts of the department. The Chief Minister gave a detailed account of funds pertaining to the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and the unnecessary dispute being created by the Telangana government over it. “There is no diversion of funds as being made out by Telangana. In fact, our money is still lying in banks in Telangana,” Chandrababu reportedly said. The AP Chief Minister sought the Governor’s intervention to rein in the Telangana government and ensure effective implementation of the Reorganisation Act. Chandrababu will visit New Delhi on 6 and 7 November to meet Union Ministers and report the Telangana government’s illegal acts to the Centre. AP Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao is also preparing a report in this regard, which he will submit to Union Cabinet Secretary and Home Secretary on the 7th. PTI