From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 25: Ministers of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh held discussions on issues related to identifying and demarcating the inter-State border between two states in Bangalore on Friday.

The Supreme Court, in its order dated April 18, 2013, had directed Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to demarcate the inter-State border through a survey conducted by the Survey of India.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Revenue N Raghuveera Reddy suggested that his government was in favour of asking the Director-General Survey of India to demarcate boundaries between two states.

Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said the two states have disputes over three villages – Siddapura, Obulapuram and Malapannagudi --located on the border.

However, both States have no documents with regard to the boundary.

It was better to on the part of both States to constitute a technical committee to survey the disputed boundaries, Jayachandra said.

Karnataka’s Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad said the issue would be brought before the State cabinet before taking a final decision.

Ministers of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also discussed flow of water into Tungabhadra right bank canal to ensure irrigation in Andhra Pradesh.

The farmers and managing committee representatives of Andhra Pradesh were unhappy that the two State Governments were not giving due attention to their problems.

A high level meeting chaired by Water Resources Minister M B Patil held discussions with Andhra Pradesh Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Sudarshan Reddy, Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Sake sailajanth and top officials of Andhra Pradesh.

Minsters and officials of two governments discussed the proposed parallel canal for the Tungabhadra right bank canal that supplies water to Anantapur and Kadapa districts.

Ministers from Andhra Pradesh demanded development of the parallel canal to augment supply to the right bank canal which is unable to meet the irrigation demand.

Under the Bachawat Award, Andhra Pradesh was allocated 32 tmcft of water but only 18 tmcft was reaching the ayacut, an official of Andhra Pradesh said.

Both States have initiated talks to rehabilitate and modernize the damaged and vulnerable portions of the right bank canal that flow from Tungabhadra dam at the Hospet into Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts.