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Telangana, AP at war on water sharing
With the water hitting dead storage levels in Sri Sailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states are seeking intervention of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for water sharing, to overcome drinking water crisis.
​Vijayawada: With the water hitting dead storage levels in Sri Sailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states are seeking intervention of Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for water sharing, to overcome drinking water crisis.
While the Telangana government wrote a letter to KRMB urging release of water from Sri Sailam, Andhra Pradesh requested the board to allot 10 tmc ft to meet drinking water needs of Krishna delta and Guntur and Prakasam districts under Nagarjuna Sagar Right Main Canal (NSPRMC).
State is also opposing to release water to Telangana alleging that it has already utilised its share. Officials of water resources department fear situation will be far worse, if KRMB agrees to the appeal of the Telangana.
“We have not utilised our share of water yet,” they maintained. Meanwhile, the officials of Krishna delta are eagerly waiting for release of water from Nagarjuna Sagar as the Pulichintala reservoir is almost empty.
“We have to supply water continuously till end of June to Krishna delta region. The water released to the region is insufficient and more water is required for storage in Pulichintala reservoir,” a senior engineer of Krishna delta irrigation circle told The Hans India. He said that they sent a request to KRMB seeking immediate release of 10 tmc ft of water for Krishna delta and district under NSPRMC. “The demand for water would increase by May,” he said.
However, engineer-in-chief of water resource department M Venkateswara Rao said that the water in reservoirs would suffice the drinking water needs of Krishna delta and Guntur and Prakasam district under NSPRMC.
“We have filled water in irrigation tanks in Prakasam and Guntur, recently. Water has to be supplied again in May to meet drinking water needs of the month and June,” he said.
“We did not use total share of water allotted to Krishna delta. In addition to this, we have right to take five to six tmc ft of water from Nagarjuna Sagar for Krishna district and delta area in Guntur region” he maintained.
As on Wednesday, Tungabhadra, which has a capacity of hold 100.86 tmc ft, had only 3.07 tmc ft, while Almatti, which has a capacity of 129.72 tmc ft is holding 12.30 tmc ft. Likewise, Srisailam with a total capacity of 215.81 tmc ft is now holding just 31 tmc ft.
The Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) of the Sri Sailam is 834 ft but the water in the reservoir is now at 804 ft.
Nagarjuna Sagar, which has a capacity of 312.05 tmc ft, is now holding 125.14 tmc ft. The MDDL of the reservoir is 510 ft but the present water level is 506.01 ft.
Similarly, Pulichintala, which has a capacity of 45.77 tmc ft, is now holding just 0.14 tmc ft. The Praksam Barrage has 2.10 tmc ft of water against its full capacity of 3.071 tmc ft.
By: K Varaprasada Rao
