Stop Karnataka project on Tungabhadra, CPI asks Naidu

​Vijayawada: CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said that the Karnataka state government was speeding up efforts for construction of one more irrigation project upstream Tungabhadra dam which may lead to water crisis in Rayalaseema districts.

The Left leader demanded the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to take the issue to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stop the construction works. He wrote a letter to Naidu and the same was released to media here on Monday.

He further said that the Karnataka government had prepared a project report for construction of irrigation project for 35 tmc ft of water storage capacity at Navali of Koppalla district which is above Tungabhadra Dam at a cost of Rs 5600.

He further said that Karnataka government is claiming that it is not utilising the water allotted as per Bachawat Tribunal. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments want to get the Detailed Project Report (DPR) however Karnataka denied giving the details, he pointed out.

“With the construction of new project, about 1.90 lakh acre of ayacut of Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool which are irrigated under Tungabhadra HLC and 1.57 lakh acre of LLC ayacut, 2.65 lakh acre of KC Canal ayacut will be dried up” he felt.