BANGALORE: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said Karnataka would also benefit from the Polavaram irrigation project. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday at the conclusion of his assembly election campaign visit to the state, the CM said apart from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka would also benefit from the irrigation project and that out of the 30 TMC of water earmarked for the two neighbouring states, Karnataka would get 12 TMC.
Referring to the water disputes between the two states, the CM said they can be amicably settled through bilateral dialogue. The water projects cannot be restricted to a single state as their benefits would be spread across the region irrespective of the boundaries, he said, adding “The disputes between AP and Karnataka regarding sharing of the Tungabhadra and Krishna waters can be resolved through talks. AP believes in solving issues through negotiations”.
Responding to a query on the Bellary dispute between the two states, the CM said the issue was before the Supreme Court and that his government would abide by the orders of the apex court. Describing Telangana as a sensitive issue, Kiran said the Centre was looking into it and hoped that the outcome would be acceptable to all the stakeholders including the people of Telangana and Seemandhra.
Analysing the election scenario in Karnataka, Kiran Kumar Reddy said the Congress stood a clear chance of emerging the winner. “The outcome of the Karnataka elections would be a clear indicator for the general elections next year. I have no doubt that the Congress will emerge victorious as the people are fed up with the BJP’s misrule and corruption,” he said.
Earlier in the day in Bangalore, the CM met representatives of various Telugu associations including Telugu-Kannada Vignana Samithi and sought their support for the Congress candidates in the polls. State leaders who accompanied him included ministers N Raghuveera Reddy, T G Venkatesh, AICC secretary and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, MLC J D Seelam, and AP women Congress president Ganga Bhavani.
