Telangana: Congress seeks Centre's intervention over sharing of Krishna waters

Hyderabad: The State Congress leadership sought intervention of the Union government to ensure Telangana irrigation projects on Krishna river are not affected and justice is done in sharing of waters as per national and international water laws.

In a letter addressed to Minister for Jal Shakthi, Gajendra Singh Shekawat, Convenor of Telangana Rashtra Krishna Nadee Jalaala Parirakshana Committee (Congress Committee for Protection of Krishna River Water), Nagam Janardhan Reddy requested that the rights of Telangana people on the Krishna River waters both assured and flood waters be protected by not allowing water for illegal projects outside the Krishna Basin by AP government. He asked for cancellation of the GO Rt No. 203 of AP government (dated 05-05-2020), as it violates National and International Water Laws and detrimental to the rights of Telangana State.

According to the Committee whose members are former MLA, T Ram Mohan Reddy and former MP, Dr Mallu Ravi, recently the government of Andhra Pradesh with an 'ill intention' to divert the Krishna waters to Pennar Basin has issued the GO Rt No.203 to increase the capacity of Pothireddipadu Head Regulator from 44,000 cusecs to 80,000 cusecs and also want to construct a lift irrigation project with 3 TMC capacity of water daily from the Sangameshwara LIS (Rayalaseema LIS) in the foreshore of Srisailam project which if allowed to be constructed would cause immense loss and damage to the interests of Telangana State.

Hence the committee sought the intervention of Union Minister to direct AP to close the old Pothireddipadu head regulator immediately and also to account the water drawn for power generation. "Utilisation of Krishna River Water for the projects in outside Basin which is . Pennar and other basins except to those permitted before bifurcation of State shall be stopped as per the water laws as lakh of acres of cultivable lands of Telangana are not getting water for irrigation in the Krishna Basin," the committee emphasised.

They further pointed out that Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has sought DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) for the new projects and the projects whose capacity is enhanced for appraisal and technical clearance. "All the projects pertaining to Telangana State mentioned therein are within Krishna Basin and have the right to use either assured or remaining water as per Bachawat Tribunal Award Final Order at Clause V (C). On the contrary the AP State has no right to use the remaining water (surplus)to transfer outside Krishna Basin for either irrigation or for any other purpose. Therefore, it is requested to kindly arrange for according technical clearance to the projects which is Palamuru Rangareddy LIS, Kalwakurthy LIS, Nettempadu, Dindi LIS and SLBC etc., all which are in Krishna Basin of Telangana State referred therein," the committee argued.