Puvvada Ajay Kumar blames Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram for floods; wants Centre to act

HYDERABAD: Transport minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar on Tuesday kicked up a storm between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He claimed the recent floods in river Godavari at Bhadrachalam were a result of AP increasing the height of the Polavaram project by three metres. He demanded the five nearby villages merged with AP during bifurcation be given back to Telangana.

At a press conference here, he said the Union government must intervene and ensure that the height of Polavaram project was reduced.

Reacting sharply, AP water resources minister Ambati Rambabu said the Polavaram project was constructed as per the design approved by Central Water Commission. Reacting to the demand over five villages, he wondered if Telangana would give Bhadrachalam to AP. Later, Puvvada said his comment was misquoted as whatever he said was to save the Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy temple and people from floods.