Vijayawada/Hyderabad: Telangana’s Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, Capt. Uttam Kumar Reddy, made an unexpected visit to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s official residence in Vijayawada on Thursday, accompanied by his wife, Padmavathi, who is also an MLA. The visit, described as a courtesy call, was to congratulate Naidu on his return to power for a fourth term.
This meeting carries substantial weight given the numerous unresolved issues between the two Telugu states following the bifurcation, particularly over water disputes.
Uttam Kumar Reddy isn’t just any leader; as a senior member of Telangana’s state cabinet led by A. Revanth Reddy, he holds the crucial Major Irrigation portfolio. His role requires effective coordination between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, especially on contentious matters involving the two major rivers, the Godavari and Krishna. These rivers, flowing through Telangana into Andhra Pradesh, present several complex issues around water sharing based on riparian rights, as well as concerns related to power generation, requiring delicate negotiation and cooperation between the states.
P Anl Kumar/ Photojournalist
