Hyderabad: Sparks fly over water at KRMB meet

Hyderabad: The meeting of the Krishna River Management Board on Thursday failed to throw up any solution to resolve the contentious issues like construction of new projects by both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The KRMB being an executive body only heard the arguments of both the sides and decided to refer the matter to the apex council.

Interestingly, both sides accused each other of constructing projects without obtaining prior permission from the Centre and argued that they would harm their interests. While the Telangana government wanted the KRMB to direct Andhra Pradesh to stop construction of all projects on river Krishna, Andhra Pradesh argued that Telangana's claim of having obtaining permission for projects like Palamuru Ranga Reddy, etc, does not stand valid since it had gone in for redesigning of the projects after bifurcation of the state.

The nature of these projects which were permitted in undivided Andhra Pradesh has been drastically changed and it would harm the interests of the lower riparian state. Refuting the charge, Principal Secretary (Irrigation), Government of Telangana Rajat Kumar said that Andhra Pradesh government's latest proposal to construct a lift irrigation project on river Krishna to lift water from Srisailam should not be allowed. This, he argued, was a new project and hence the neighbouring state should seek the permission of the apex council. He complained that AP was utilising more water than what was allocated to it.

Referring to the Pattiseema project in Andhra Pradesh, he said as per the agreement, the upper riparian state (Telangana) should be given 45 TMC of water from river Krishna. He also made a power-point presentation to explain how the interests of Telangana were affected by the projects being taken up by AP. He said that drinking water needs of Hyderabad to the extent of 16.5 TMC would be met through the projects on Krishna river. Rajat Kumar said that the share of Telangana in Krishna waters should be enhanced to 575 TMC as most part of the river flows in the state.

Challenging the claims of Telangana, Principal Secretary (AP Irrigation department) Adityanath Das said that since the location of projects cleared in undivided AP have been changed, they should be considered as new ones. He also claimed that AP was taking up only the projects that were cleared in united Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, KRMB chairman A Paramesham directed the irrigation officials of both the states to submit detailed project reports of the new projects on river Krishna. They would be submitted to the apex council for clearances.

He said that flood water should be used on 50:50 ratio. He further said that the Krishna water should be shared on the ratio of 66:34 by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, respectively. The formula should be followed till the final formula is decided. Both the states agreed to implement telemetry system on priority and promised to make available required funds to the KRMB. The power would be shared on 50:50 ratio by both the states which is generated at Srisailam.