Tension at Nagarjunasagar over release of water to AP

Hyderabad/Amaravati: Ahead of summer, inevitable water wars between the two sister states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have resumed.  With the Telangana state stopping the release of water from Nagarjunasagar Project (NSP) into the right main canal that serves AP, tension prevailed at the project site on Wednesday with the irrigation officials of the two states coming almost to blows. 

When the situation appeared getting out of control, police forces from both Telangana and AP which rushed to the spot managed to bring the situation under control. Telangana irrigation officials said that on the instruction of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), they had stopped the release of water to Andhra as the neighbouring state had utilised all the waters allotted to it.

The KRMB informed to the two states that the total availability of water in Srisailam and NSP was only 36 tmcft.  As per the decision of the KRMB on January 10, the allocation for AP was 60 tmcft while it was 50 tmcft for Telangana.  The Telangana officials claimed that the KRMB had pointed out that AP had already used 2.32 tmcft water more than the allocation as on February 26 but Telangana utilised only 33 tmcft water.  

Telangana is entitled to use 17 tmcft of water from its allocation.  Board Member Secretary A Paramesham has already informed the states that AP drew more water than permitted for this year. “In the order, the board member secretary had asked AP to stop further drawls immediately from various outlets in two common reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects”.    

The Telangana irrigation officials obstructed when their AP counterparts came to operate the regulator for the release of water at the project site. The AP officials also argued with those of the Telangana government that they have permission to draw water. When the AP officials tried to force the release of water, tension prevailed for some time. 

The Telangana police who arrived in strength swung into action and clamped prohibitory orders at the project site. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh claimed that the KRMB has given an order permitting it to continue to the release of water from the right main canal.

As the Telangana irrigation officials closed the gates of NSP’s right main canal, accusing AP of over-utilization of water, the AP irrigation officials entered into an argument with the Telangana officials. They contended that Telangana has no right to stop the release of water to the right main canal.

But, AP officials differed with  the argument of their counterparts that it had drawn more water than permitted and said that the release of water was only between 53 tmcft to 54 tmcft and that it has not reached to 60 tmcft. “We have told Telangana officials that we have right to draw more water and closing the gates was very inappropriate,” chief engineer of Ongole Jabbar told The Hans India.   

The AP officials claim that Telangana officials rejected their request to continue the release of water at the rate of 2,000 cusecs to NSPRMC until Thursday. Engineer-in-Chief M Venkateswara Rao said the issue has been settled. “The KRMB has given the order permitting us to release water to NSP right main canal. 

As per the order, water can be released for another five days,” he said, pointing out that water indent for March would be discussed at the KRMB's next meeting which would be held either on Friday or Saturday.