Telangana all for linking but not to sacrifice its interests

 New Delhi: Telangana state government has made it clear to the Centre to ensure a minimum of 1,600 tmc feet of water availability to the state before undertaking inter-state river linking projects. Speaking at a meeting of the 14th Inter-State River Linking conference organised by the National Development Agency and chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, and which was attended by the officials of Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, insisted on the requirement of 1,600 tmc ft of water explaining that though Telangana government was willing to cooperate with the Centre in linking rivers, it would not sacrifice its interests at the same time.

Later speaking to the media, Harish Rao said the meeting discussed several aspects of river linking like availability of water, points of connectivity, alternate ways, environment and cost-effective ways of linking the rivers. While the Godavari-Cauvery linking was to be undertaken under Phase-I, Mahanadi-Godavari linking was being planned in the Phase-II programme. The meeting focused on linking Godavari with Cauvery via Nagarjunasagar, he said.

The Centre proposed building of a barrage at Akkanapalli and divert water, but as it would lead to submergence of 45 villages and 48,000 acres of land, it was not acceptable to the state government. Referring to the claim of the Union Minister that at least 3,000 tmc ft of water was flowing waste into the sea every year, Harish Rao said that Telangana was already reeling under Krishna water deficit - as the water availability was decreasing gradually - Godavari river alone was the source now. 

Telangana had a right over 945 tmc ft of Godavari water, he said. Under the combined state, the Telangana region was deprived of the same. Hence, the demand for ensuring 1,600 tmc ft of water to Telangana. Akkanapalli project would mean trouble for Sitarama project and hence Mahanadi- Godavari linking should be undertaken in the first phase instead of the second phase, he said.

Similarly, while the Central Water Commission had taken into account 40 years of water availability for Kaleswaram and Kantanapalli projects, it was improper to take 110 years of water availability as a yardstick for river linking now, he objected. He sought the constitution of a technical committee with CWC, SWDA and state Irrigation officials to study the issue.

Harish Rao stated that Gadkari was all praise for Kaleswarm project works and complimented the state government for its keen interest in developing the project keeping the interests of farmers and the state. He had promised to visit the project site at the earliest. Harish Rao urged the Minister to release more funds for Mission Bhagiratha without further delay.