Disputes among States over water sharing in inter-state projects are not new; yet, an insinuation made in official circles that the stance of Andhra Pradesh is preferred over that of Telangana in the Krishna River Management Board meeting has put a question mark over the reportage of the media. For, one senior official, in response to media persons’ query on the conflict over statements of the ENCs of TS and AP, observed: “Pro Andhra Pradesh propaganda is going on in media”. The official was responding to the row at KRMB’s meeting concerning handing over of components of projects. TS ENC C Muralidhar said that Telangana had agreed to hand over specified ‘outlets’. However, ENC of Andhra Pradesh C Narayana Reddy said that ‘projects’ were being handed over to KRMB. It was only after a ruckus that TS officials clarified that only ‘outlets’ were being handed over. The official who had charged the media with not doing its job also remarked much to the chagrin of journalists who had been part of the Telangana statehood movement: “Media believes Andhra Pradesh ENC and not Telangana ENC”.
