Andhra Pradesh justifies stand on Seema LI scheme Says we are simply emulating Telangana in executing projects

Amaravati: The AP government has hardened its stance on the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme and hit out at the Krishna River Management Board for intervening in the issue and asserted that it "will execute the Rayalaseema LI Scheme to draw water at a level at 800 ft."

In a reply to the KRMB, the AP government highlighted the LI schemes of Telangana, being executed with impunity to the detriment of AP, and said "the LI scheme to draw water at a level of 800 ft to meet drinking and irrigation needs of the critically and chronically drought-prone Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts" shall be undertaken.

"In fact, the AP government is only following what the Telangana government has done in the past by restricting itself within the allocation made by the KWDT-II before the Apex Council in the meeting in 2016," Adityanath Das, Special Chief Secretary (Irrigation), AP, said in his reply.

"Telangana will restrict itself within the allocation made by the KWDT-II and will go ahead with the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy LI scheme and Dindi LI scheme, it (Telangana) stated," hence the AP was also following the "same way", he added. The Special Chief Secretary recalled that as per the AP Reorganisation Act the planning of any new project by AP and Telangana is to be appraised and recommended by the KRMB and Central Water Commission and thereafter it requires approval of the Apex Council.

However, after the formation of Telangana, five new projects were taken up by Telangana for which there is no allocation by the KWDT-I in violation of the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, ie, without any clearance or approval from the KRMB, CWC, and Apex Council prejudicially affecting the interests of the lower riparian state of Andhra Pradesh.

In spite of the repeated requests by the AP before the KRMB, CWC, MoWR and the Central government to prevail on Telangana to take prior recommendations of the KRMB, the Telangana is going ahead with executing the five projects—Palamuru-Ranga Reddy LI Scheme, Dindi LI scheme, Bhaktha Ramdas LI scheme, watergrid project under Mission Bhagiratha and Tummilla LI scheme.

In addition, Telangana has also enhanced the scope of three on-going projects—Kalwakurthi LI scheme, Nettempadu LI scheme, Srisailam Left Bank Canal—without any prior approvals, he said.

The Special Chief Secretary recalled that the AP has lodged its protests on several occasions but in vain. He said in view of these facts, it is evident that Telangana has several outlets and pump houses to draw water at a level of 800ft. There is also facility to draw 42,000 C/s for power generation from a level of 796ft which virtually deprives both drinking and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts.

Whereas for AP through Pothireddypadu head regulator full drawals can be achieved above 881ft and the drawals goes on decreasing from level 881ft to 854ft and drops to 7000C/s at 854ft, he pointed out. Further the scope for full drawal through Pothireddypadu is available on an average 10 to 15 days only in a year. "The AP is unable to draw its share of water in the available short period." Under these circumstances, there will be no adverse impact on the interest of Telangana due to the execution of the Rayalaseema LI scheme as the drawals are limited to as per the allocations made to each State, he averred.