Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said he had held discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on key issues of mutual interest, including Chennai’s drinking water requirements and the proposed Godavari–Cauvery river interlinking project.
Welcoming Vijay to Vijayawada, Naidu said the discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the neighbouring states to address water needs and explore long-term solutions to water scarcity.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh had released 4.08 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water to Chennai this year through the Telugu Ganga Project. He added that the state remained committed to supporting Tamil Nadu despite its own water constraints, while ensuring that the needs of its people were also addressed.
“Water should be a source of cooperation, not conflict,” Naidu said, emphasising the importance of coordination between states.
He expressed confidence that the proposed Godavari–Cauvery river interlinking initiative, with the support of the Union government and cooperation among the states concerned, could help address water scarcity, improve agricultural prospects and benefit lakhs of farmers across South India.
Naidu said the project had the potential to provide a long-term solution to water shortages while supporting agricultural development and regional prosperity.
“Together, we can turn shared water resources into shared prosperity,” he said, underscoring the need for cooperative efforts to manage water resources and meet the growing requirements of southern states.